Working with ADD/ADHD

Hello Del,   I got your e-mail address from a colleague, and I'm hoping you can help me.  I am currently working with three ADD/ADHD children for a research project for a child development class.  All of the children have gone into hypnosis well, and I have been giving them patter to increase self-esteem, and for being able to relax and pay attention in school.  The children's parents have all said that the children are doing worse after their session.  These are good kids and I want to be able to help them.  Is there any patter you can send me, or anything you can recommend for me to do? Thanks for your time.

ANSWER:

I’m unable to tell you why they are worse. With adults, sometimes I tell them that they might have the experience of getting worse before getting better, because when they walk through the door of opportunity resistance walks in with them.  I would think this could the same experience of children, although it's strange if they all are experiencing the same thing. 

I don't know if you have any of my GREAT ESCAPES script books for children and pre-teens, but there are several things for younger children, including a problem solving script, which I believe could be most helpful.  If you haven't seen the scripts, If you haven’t seen the scripts, please go the Store on my web site.  There are also many individual scripts which can be downloaded. These are by subject, including Children.

Since I don't know the children's circumstances at home or school, am unsure of what, in particular, would be helpful besides that one.  Self esteem is fine, but you might need to create a recording that has a number of suggestions re: PEACE, along with the self-esteem suggestions. 

If they're having trouble calming down, you could consider having them (when hypnotized) imagine themselves being given a magic cloak by a magician who has been wearing it.  Whenever they feel they are getting anxious or too wound up, they can close their eyes and pretend they are wearing the cloak, and immediately become calm.  I have had a little girl who used to calm down by pretending she was holding her pet bird (or it could be a cuddly small animal).