Child with Chronic Worries and Anxiety

Question
The little boy I spoke of fears going to sleep because he fears his nightmares. The general theme in these recurrent dreams are him being kidnapped or something happening to his mother. He worries that he'll be separated from his family (Mom) and be left alone with strangers. He also worries about school. He puts a great deal of pressure on himself to perform well in school and worries that he did his homework wrong or he might be called upon in class and not have the correct answer. He is the eldest of two boys and worries over his mom's health and her battle with pain. We tried hypnosis once and he is willing to do it again.

Answer
The important thing is that this child experience having control over a situation. He has no control over his mother's poor health or with what he is asked to do in school. This is showing up in his dreams. You might consider having him conjure up one of these dreams while he is in your office, and then the two of you walk into the dream together to see where it takes you. Have him describe everything that's happening, and then find a way for him to gain power over the kidnappers or those after his mother. It may help if you've inquired as to who his hero is, and then supply him with either the hero or some symbol of the hero, such as a cape or stun gun or laser ray, or whatever. An additional possibility is for him to express what animal is courageous, and what animal is smart. Then he can pretend to be those animals when he is in a position of either worrying over not having the right answer in school, or being fearful of kidnappers or his mother's health.