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Presenter: Rebecca L. Kajander, MPH, BSN, RN, CPNP, PMHS

Children/teens are naturally driven towards mastery and control of their thoughts, actions, and emotions. The integration of hypnosis and biofeedback provides the clinician with a variety of interventions to enhance the child/teens’ ability to resolve problems, participate in their own health care, create life-long coping strategies and maximize their potential.

Biofeedback is the use of equipment – usually, but not always, a computer – to measure, record and feedback physiologic responses that reflect autonomic nervous system function. Hypnosis is the use of therapeutic language to assist children/teens in using their imagination to enhance their own innate healing capacity. Both employ focused concentration, positive expectancy, and openness to new ideas and experiences. Children/teens who need verification of their ability to use their minds to change their bodies can imagine putting their hands somewhere warm - like in the sun, around a cup of hot chocolate, or by a bonfire - and feel warmth in their hands while noticing how the temperature increases on a thermometer taped to their finger. Another child may enhance their hypnotic trance by passively watching the rhythmic pattern of slow diaphragmatic breathing on a biofeedback screen.

Children/teens are skilled in the use of computers, enjoy the challenge of creating change and are often amazed at how well their minds and bodies work together. It is not uncommon to hear, “This was fun. I had no idea I could use my mind to change my body.”
During and at the conclusion of this session, the attendee will be able to:

-> Compare and contrast biofeedback and hypnosis as means of integrating mind and body;
-> Describe at least 4 modalities that can be measured with peripheral biofeedback and how each is expected to change in ways that promote health and healing;
-> Practice combining hypnotic phenomenon with biofeedback to enhance personal expertise; and
-> Develop protocols for 3 or more health issues using integration of hypnosis and biofeedback.