Changing children’s lives with hypnosis: A journey to the center

In Changing Children’s Lives with Hypnosis, Dr. Ran Anbar has provided a book that is far more than the title suggests. The book is very personal, insightful, practical, and challenging. While not designed as a textbook, it could be certainly used for that purpose both by those who work with children, but also by anyone interested in the power of hypnosis as a context for intervention. Throughout the book, Dr. Anbar “beats the drum” for the use of hypnosis and the need to increase the use of hypnosis to enhance interventions that may avoid painful, costly, and often ineffective alternatives. His advocacy for the use of hypnosis is supported both by dozens of anecdotal stories, as well as numerous scientific references. The book is organized into 5 Parts and 23 Chapters. These include Part I: The Power of Hypnosis; Part II: The Power of Words; Part III: The Power of the Subconscious; Part IV: The Power of the Spirit; and Part V: Hypnosis Principles in Action. Written with an audience of both professional therapists and parents in mind, each of the first 21 chapters concludes with a section entitled “What You Can Do On Your Own,” which includes practical suggestions for parents hoping to help their children. Examples include suggestions to stay calm, encourage imagination, and listen actively. The book is intensely personal. Not only does Dr. Anbar provide a great deal of information about his own journey in the field of hypnosis (and medicine), but he also lets us meet Paul, Teddy, Kayla, Bruce, Eric, Emily, Ian, Elise Scott, and dozens of other children and young adults who found success in learning to use techniques and skills to improve their situation. Even those children who do not survive to see adulthood, demonstrate the power that hypnotically informed interventions can have to relieve anxiety and improve the quality of life. Along the way, Dr. Anbar promotes the importance of empowering the child in learning hypnosis, designing treatment strategies, and striving for independence. This book will introduce you to Paul, the patient who helped the author discover applications for hypnosis and who was key to several insights that formed Dr. Anbar’s current practice. While Paul appears and reappears throughout the book, dozens of other children appear in brief case histories, each as a key example of what can be accomplished even by patients with severe medical conditions. Dr. Anbar shares examples from over 20 years of clinical experience and, along the way, shares personal insights, opinions, concerns, hopes, and fears. He includes key advice about the importance of words, positive attitude, intentions, and especially the power of the subconscious. In the end, I believe that it would be difficult for the reader not to feel inspired and motivated to engage in the effort to promote the use of hypnosis in pediatric care. I strongly recommend this book not only for practitioners involved with pediatric patients, but also for anyone wanting a better grasp of the fundamentals of hypnotic possibilities and practice.