Frequently Asked Questions

Hypnosis is not magic or a stage act – it’s science! It works by tapping into the Alpha brain waves that are the same as when you’re in REM sleep. That’s what allows you to access the subconscious mind. It’s very easy and anyone can do it. You’ll see for yourself when you do it too!

Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach developed by Marisa Peer that combines the most effective principles of hypnotherapy, NLP, psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). In an RTT session, the client enters a relaxed, hypnotic state that allows access to the subconscious mind. This makes it possible to identify and reframe the root cause of a problem — rather than just managing symptoms — often within one to three sessions. RTT is used to support emotional regulation, anxiety, behavioural challenges, confidence issues, and a wide range of other concerns in both children and adults.

The experience feels different for different people. Some people feel a floating sensation, but some do not. Others may feel sleepy, some do not. Most people feel relaxed and at ease. You are awake and alert, aware of everything that is happening throughout the session.

What’s most important is to know that how you feel isn’t an indicator of how effective it is. Regardless of what it feels like – it’s working.

Children typically describe hypnotherapy as feeling relaxed, calm, and safe — similar to daydreaming or being deeply absorbed in a story. They remain aware of everything happening during the session and are never out of control. Some children feel a floating sensation, others simply feel very still and comfortable. Some might even be fully awake but relaxed.

Most leave a session feeling lighter, clearer, or with a sense of something having shifted. Sessions are always conducted in a warm, non-clinical, child-friendly way.

RTT differs from regular counselling in that it works at the subconscious level rather than the conscious mind. Counselling typically involves talking through problems and developing coping strategies over many sessions. RTT aims to identify and resolve the underlying root cause of a problem — often achieving significant shifts in one to three sessions. It combines hypnosis with techniques from NLP, CBT, and psychotherapy, making it a more integrated and often faster approach. It does not replace medical treatment but can complement it effectively.

Yes, hypnotherapy is safe for children when delivered by a qualified practitioner. Children are often naturally excellent at entering a relaxed, imaginative state, which makes them highly receptive to hypnotherapy. At The Happy Thoughts Co., sessions for children are age-appropriate, child-led, and tailored to their developmental stage. For children aged 5 to 9, sessions are structured differently to suit younger attention spans. No child is made to do or say anything they are not comfortable with, and a parent or guardian is always informed about the session process.

Most people see meaningful change within one to three sessions, depending on the presenting issue and the person's individual response. RTT is designed to create shifts quickly rather than requiring long-term weekly appointments.

For Kids & Teens I recommend a program at The Happy Thoughts Co. it includes an initial guidance session, one RTT session, a personalised hypnosis recording, and four weekly coaching sessions over 30 days — all as part of a structured 30-day transformation process. Some children benefit from additional sessions for more complex or layered challenges.

School refusal is when a child persistently avoids or refuses to attend school, often due to anxiety, emotional dysregulation, or an unmet need for safety and belonging. It is not defiance or laziness — it is the nervous system's response to a perceived threat. Common triggers include social anxiety, fear of failure, bullying, sensory overwhelm, separation anxiety, or a sense of not belonging. School refusal is best addressed by understanding the underlying pattern rather than forcing attendance, which can deepen the anxiety response.

Emotional dysregulation in children can look like intense or prolonged meltdowns, difficulty calming down after becoming upset, explosive reactions to small frustrations, emotional shutdowns or withdrawal, extreme mood swings, difficulty tolerating transitions or change, and physical complaints like stomach aches or headaches with no clear medical cause. It reflects a nervous system that is struggling to regulate itself — not a child who is deliberately misbehaving. With the right support, children can learn to recognise and manage their emotional responses effectively.

Yes. The Happy Thoughts Co. is a safe, affirming space for neurodivergent children and those with sensory sensitivities. Neurodiversity is understood here as variation, not deficit. Sessions are adapted to each child's individual needs, communication style, and processing differences. Rather than trying to change who a child is, the focus is on helping them feel safer in their nervous system, building emotional tools that work for their unique way of experiencing the world, and reducing the environmental and internal pressures that lead to dysregulation.

Most conventional approaches to child anxiety work at the conscious level — they teach coping strategies, challenge thinking patterns, or encourage gradual exposure. These can be useful but often do not reach the subconscious programming that is driving the anxiety. RTT works differently by accessing the subconscious mind directly during a relaxed hypnotic state, identifying where the belief or pattern originated, and reframing it at the root. This is why many families find meaningful change with RTT after years of other approaches have not resolved the underlying issue.

Sessions are available for children aged 5 and up, teenagers, and adults. For children aged 5 to 9, sessions are structured differently and are shorter and more age-appropriate. It is important to note that the child's own priority and comfort is always the focus of a session — this may differ from what parents are hoping to address, and that is respected. The child's willingness and readiness to engage is an important part of the process.

No referral is needed to book a session at The Happy Thoughts Co. You can book directly through the website. If your child is currently working with other health professionals such as a paediatrician, psychologist, or GP, it can be helpful to mention this so sessions can complement their existing care. RTT and Kids Life Coaching are not medical treatments and do not replace professional medical or psychological care where that is required.

Kids Life Coaching uses conversation, play-based tools, and guided reflection to help children build emotional awareness, confidence, and practical skills for managing their feelings and behaviour. It works at a conscious level and is particularly effective for children who are ready to engage verbally and want tools they can use in daily life. RTT (Rapid Transformational Therapy) uses hypnosis to access the subconscious mind and address deeper root causes of anxiety, fear, or behavioural patterns. Both approaches are available at The Happy Thoughts Co. and are often used together within the 30-day program.

Yes. All client information is treated with strict confidentiality in accordance with professional codes of ethics and the Australian Privacy Act 1988. Information is only shared with other professionals in very limited circumstances — if there is a risk to the safety of your child or another person, or if notes are subpoenaed by a court. During professional supervision, only first names are used. Inactive client files are securely destroyed after three years. Full details are outlined in our Privacy Policy.

Healing Eve is a guided healing program designed for both mother and child to work through together. It combines subconscious reprogramming, nervous system tools, and trauma release work to address inherited emotional patterns — recognising that a child's dysregulation is often connected to patterns carried by the parent, sometimes across generations. The program supports both the child and the mother to heal together, rebuilding the family's emotional foundation from the ground up.

The first step is a free 30-minute exploration call, which you can book directly through the website at happythoughts.au. This call is a chance to talk through what is happening for your child or family, ask any questions, and decide together whether The Happy Thoughts Co. is the right fit. There is no obligation to proceed, and the call itself is often reassuring for parents who have been struggling to find the right support.

This is one of the most honest and courageous things a parent can recognise. Children's nervous systems are deeply influenced by the emotional patterns, stress responses, and unconscious beliefs of the adults around them — particularly their primary caregivers. The Happy Thoughts Co. offers parent support sessions and the Healing Eve program specifically to address this. Working on your own nervous system and emotional patterns is not a sign of failure; it is often the most powerful thing you can do for your child.