Child Hypnotherapy and Parenting Coaching in London: A Gentle Approach to Help Your Child Grow with Confidence

When a pediatrician isn’t enough…

Many parents turn to a pediatrician when their child is struggling: sleep issues, anxiety and fears, or challenging behaviors. But sometimes, medicine doesn’t cover everything.

This is where a complementary approach, combining child hypnotherapy and parenting coaching, can bring real transformation.

I am Leslie NAHAMA, a parenting coach and hypnotherapist, supporting French-speaking families in London. My mission: to offer your child a safe space to regain balance and confidence, while guiding you, the parents, with concrete tools to ease everyday life.

Common issues I support children with

Every child is unique, but parents often consult me for very real and recurring situations:

• Sleep: “my child can’t fall asleep alone”, “frequent night wakings”, “recurring nightmares”

• Anxiety and fears: “fear of separation”, “fear of the dark”, “fear of stairs”, “fear of dogs or animals”

• Strong emotions: “my child has uncontrollable tantrums”, “he is hypersensitive”, “I can’t manage the meltdowns anymore”

• Focus and school: “he can’t concentrate”, “he hits at school”, “he hates losing”

• Sibling rivalry and jealousy: “he is jealous of his baby sister”, “he changed a lot since the baby was born”

• Toilet training and autonomy: “he refuses the potty”, “he still wets the bed”, “difficulties with toilet training”

• Eating habits: “he doesn’t eat anything”, “he refuses to try new food”, “he only wants pasta”

• Life transitions: “since starting school, he doesn’t sleep anymore”, “moving house has been hard”, “coping with separation”

• Self-confidence: “he is very shy”, “he is afraid to fail”, “he refuses to try new things”

👉 These are exactly the kind of phrases parents type into Google. You are not alone — these

challenges are common, and there are gentle, respectful solutions.

Real-life examples of support

Nail biting

A 7-year-old child bit his nails whenever he felt anxious or bored.

• Session 1: playful connection, understanding the habit, creative activity to release tension.

• Session 2: introducing new games to replace the habit, breathing exercises to manage anxiety.

• Session 3 (if needed): guiding parents on what to say and how to respond when the child puts fingers in his mouth.

👉 Within weeks, the child found new ways to feel safe, and parents felt empowered with the right responses.

Claustrophobia and fear of closed doors

A 6-year-old boy refused to stay in a closed room, making bedtime and independence very difficult.

• Session 1: building trust through play and child hypnotherapy, exploring how the child experienced the fear.

• Session 2: drawing the fear to externalize it, then destroying the drawing. Next, creating a new drawing of the desired state, with “superpowers” to achieve it.

• Session 3: consolidating progress, final adjustments, and coaching parents on bedtime rituals.

👉 Gradually, he accepted closed doors and gained new pride in his abilities.

Sleep issues

A 3-year-old girl struggled to fall asleep alone and woke up several times a night. Her parents were exhausted.

• Session 1: exploring routines, challenges, and especially a 360° view of the child (emotions, diet, rhythm, security). Together, we defined the first tailored solutions.

• Session 2: reviewing progress, adjusting routines, introducing new strategies (bedtime rituals, words to use, parental posture).

• Session 3: consolidating, fine-tuning, and offering long-term tips.

💬 Between sessions: I stay connected via WhatsApp, calls, and voice notes. Parents are never left alone and receive constant guidance.

My approach to sleep

Unlike some “sleep coaching” methods that involve leaving a child to cry behind a closed door, I refuse these approaches that generate tears, stress, and distress.

My support is:

• Gentle: always centered on the child’s emotional and physiological needs.

• No tears: never leaving a child alone with distress.

• Science-based: research shows leaving children to cry releases stress hormones (cortisol) that harm emotional development.

• Experienced: many case studies show that peaceful sleep can be achieved without crying or broken trust.

No miracle solutions — but a journey of rebuilding trust

Parents often ask if sleep can be “fixed in two sessions.” The truth is: no miracles. Sleep transformation takes time, because it’s about rebuilding trust and emotional safety.

Children often experience:

• stress and tension at bedtime,

• crying left unanswered,

• “cry it out” methods attempted in despair,

• constant changes of beds, rules, or routines.

👉 This breaks consistency and security.

A healthy sleep routine requires months of consistency, even when nights vary. But the results are worth it:✨ A child with renewed energy,✨ a brain ready to learn,✨ fewer meltdowns, better focus,✨ higher self-esteem,✨ stronger trust between child and parent.

Practical tools to support your child

4 simple hypnotherapy tools for bedtime 🌙

1. Butterfly breathing 🦋"Let’s pretend we are butterflies. Do you want to be a little butterfly or a big one? What color are your wings? Put your hands here, on your shoulders… It’s like your wings are opening to fly. Breathe in slowly… then blow gently on your wings… again… Do you feel your wings flapping and calming you down? Let’s do it again…”

2. The magic place / resource ✨"Close your eyes… and imagine a place where you feel super safe and happy. Maybe a cabin, maybe your bed, maybe a secret place. What do you choose tonight? Okay, let’s close our eyes and go explore this place together. Shhh… listen, do you hear something? What’s that sound? An animal? Or is it calm? Oh look, over there, what colors do you see? (sniff sniff) Mmm, that smell… what do you smell? This is your magic place, and you can come back anytime you want to feel peaceful.”

3. The balloon release 🎈"Let’s make a magic balloon. Put your hands as if you’re holding it. Now blow into it really hard with all your fears, your anger, your worries. (We can add real examples from the day: ‘Remember when you were upset about this? Let’s put it inside the balloon!’) Blow again… That’s it! Now look at your balloon floating up… higher… farther into the sky… It’s getting smaller… and now it disappears!”

4. Smell your flowers, blow your candle 🌸🕯️"Imagine you’re holding a beautiful flower. Smell its perfume… mmm, it’s so nice! And now imagine in your other hand you’re holding a lit candle. Blow hard to put out the flame… Pffff! Well done, the candle is out. Let’s do it again: smell your flower… blow your candle.”

👉 This can also be used during the day if a child gets upset: “Remember, smell your flower, blow your candle.” Mime it with them, exaggerate the big breath (it helps you too!) and blow so strong it almost looks silly — it often makes them laugh, and then you start again.

6 Positive parenting tools to start right now 🌱

1. Say what you want to see instead of saying “no”

Describe the expected action instead of forbidding. It makes rules clearer, and the child feels guided, not blocked.

👉 At the table

• ❌ “Don’t put your elbows on the table.”✔️ “You can keep your hands on your knees or next to your plate.”

• ❌ “Don’t throw your glass!”✔️ “If you’re finished, you can put your glass here gently.”

• ❌ “Don’t play with your food.”✔️ “Food is for eating. If you want to play, we’ll do it later with your toys.”

👉 At home

• ❌ “Don’t run in the living room!”✔️ “You can walk slowly here, and we’ll run outside after.”

• ❌ “Don’t touch the plugs!”✔️ “Your hands can stay behind your back when you pass here.”

• ❌ “Don’t spill the water!”✔️ “You can pour slowly into your glass, take your time.”

👉 With objects / toys

• ❌ “Don’t tear your book!”✔️ “You can turn the pages gently with your fingers.”

• ❌ “Don’t throw your toys!”✔️ “Your toys are for playing on the floor. If you want to throw, let’s use a ball.”

• ❌ “Don’t touch the elevator buttons!”✔️ “You can keep your hands by your side or in your pockets.”

👉 With others

• ❌ “Don’t hit your sister!”✔️ “If you’re angry, you can say loudly: I DON’T AGREE!”

• ❌ “Don’t shout at your friends!”✔️ “If you want them to hear you, you can use your normal voice.”

• ❌ “Don’t grab your brother’s toy!”✔️ “You can wait for your turn or ask with your words: ‘Can I play after you?’”

👉 Bedtime / transitions

• ❌ “Don’t get out of bed!”✔️ “You can stay lying down and close your eyes, I’ll come back in 5 minutes.”

• ❌ “Don’t cry about going to school!”✔️ “You can tell me what feels hard for you, I’m listening.”

• ❌ “Don’t make a fuss about getting dressed!”✔️ “You can choose: the blue sweater or the red one?”

👉 In the street

• ❌ “Don’t cross!”✔️ “You can wait until I hold your hand to cross.”

• ❌ “Don’t run too far!”✔️ “You can walk next to me or just in front of me.”

👉 When climbing or taking risks

• ❌ “Don’t climb up there, you’ll fall!”✔️ “Look carefully where you put your feet. Find your balance, I’m here to keep you safe.”

• ❌ “Come down right now!”✔️ “You can keep going if you hold on with both hands.”

• ❌ “Don’t jump, it’s dangerous!”✔️ “If you want to jump, you can do it from here, it’s lower and safer.”

👉 When exploring objects

• ❌ “Don’t touch that, you’ll hurt yourself!”✔️ “Look with your eyes first. If you want to touch, I’ll show you how to do it safely.”

• ❌ “Don’t put that in your mouth!”✔️ “This object stays in your hands. If you want to taste, let’s use food.”

👉 When running outside

• ❌ “Don’t run, you’ll fall!”✔️ “Look around to see if there’s space. You can run on the grass, that’s safer.”

👉 On ladders, slides, bikes

• ❌ “Careful, you’ll fall!”✔️ “Take your time. One foot first, then the other. Do you feel your body finding balance?”

• ❌ “Don’t ride so fast!”✔️ “Keep your eyes forward and both hands on the handlebars.”

💡 The idea: channel, don’t block. Replace “No, danger!” with “Observe, adjust, do it carefully.” Give concrete instructions (hands, feet, balance, looking around). Stay a gentle guide rather than a brake.

2. Validate emotions and put words on them

👉 “You’re sad because you wanted to keep playing. I understand.”

3. Connect daily through play and joy

👉 Even 10 minutes of laughter, songs, or games strengthen the bond and emotional safety.

4. Use “I” instead of blaming with “You”

👉 “I don’t like water on the floor, I have to clean and it makes me tired. You can splash here

instead.”

5. Offer alternatives to forbidden behaviors

👉 “It’s not okay to hit. But if you’re upset, you can say loudly: I DON’T WANT THIS!”

6. See your child as an explorer

👉 A spilled glass, a tantrum, or a refusal is not manipulation — it’s learning.

My references in London

• Featured in Français à Londres and partner of La Petite Nursery

• Experience at Gan Yeladim, with Rabbi Menachem (references available upon request)

• Daily support for French-speaking families in London and online

FAQ – Child hypnotherapy & parenting coaching in London

Is hypnotherapy safe for a child? Yes. Child hypnotherapy is gentle, respectful, and safe. The child is always conscious, active, and free. They don’t sleep, they don’t “lose control”: they imagine, they play, they explore their inner world.

From what age can children benefit?

👶 From birth: Parents can already be supported. Before age 4, most challenges (sleep, food, toilet training) do not come from the child directly, but from how parents and environment respond to their needs.

👉 In this case, my role is to guide parents, give them tools, and help them adjust. This is never about blame — it’s about empowering and supporting them.

🎲 From age 4: We can start working directly with the child, always through play and imagination. At this age, I don’t use “classical hypnosis”:

• we do symbolic play (drawing fears, inventing superpowers, telling stories),

• role play (the child becomes the hero facing a monster, or finding a magic key),

• and simple hypnotherapy exercises (butterfly breathing, magic place, balloon release, etc.).

👉 The child stays active and engaged. They see it as play, not as “serious therapy.”

How many sessions are needed ?It depends. Sometimes 3–4 sessions are enough. In other cases, support is longer, always adapted to the family’s rhythm.

Do parents participate in sessions? Yes, parenting coaching is integrated. I provide concrete tools so parents can continue at home.

Does hypnotherapy replace a pediatrician?No. It complements medical follow-up. For any health concern, a pediatrician is essential.

Why work with me?

As a mother myself, I understand your worries. My approach is:

• Gentle and respectful: adapted to each child

• Holistic: child hypnotherapy + parenting coaching

• Bilingual: for French-speaking families in London

• Experienced: built on many real-life cases

Ready to try a new approach?

If your child struggles with sleep, fears, anxiety, or emotions, I offer a discovery session (online or in person in London).

👉 Contact me today to find out more.

Because every child deserves to be heard, and every parent deserves support.