27/03/2026
ππ‘π πππ§ππ₯π ππ¨π°ππ« π¨π πππ¨π«π² π’π§ ππ‘π’π₯ππ«ππ§βπ¬ ππ‘ππ«ππ©π²
When we think about supporting children, it is easy to focus on talking, explaining, and helping them find the right words. But often, children process the world differently. Story, metaphor, imagination, and symbolism can create a gentler pathway to healing.
This is one of the reasons I have long valued healing stories in therapeutic work with children and young people. I have known of this resource for years, since training with George W. Burns back in 2010, and it is one I still genuinely appreciate.
Healing stories and metaphors can help children explore big feelings, worries, grief, confidence, behaviour, family changes, and difficult life experiences in a way that feels safer and less confronting than direct conversation alone. They can open the door to insight, reflection, and emotional expression in ways that are age-appropriate, creative, and deeply effective.
I have always loved how stories can work in ways that feel similar to hypnotherapy for children, creating safety, lowering resistance, and allowing meaning to emerge naturally. They can be used within hypnosis, but also beautifully outside of hypnosis in everyday counselling and therapeutic work.
For practitioners, parents, and carers, this is a lovely reminder that healing does not always happen through direct talk. Sometimes story is the bridge.
Sharing this resource here in case it is helpful:
www.socialworkerstoolbox.com/101-healing-stories-kids-teens-book/
