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Hypnotherapy Backed by Research
A major new study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health (2025) has confirmed what many paediatric hypnotherapists have observed in clinical practice for years, that gut-directed hypnotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for abdominal pain in children.
This breakthrough research is a landmark moment for families looking for proven, lasting solutions.
At the Surrey Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy, we are proud to deliver the very approach this research supports.
Our senior paediatric hypnotherapist, Kelly Hawkins-Wigglesworth works with children who experience ongoing abdominal pain, especially when medical tests show no clear cause. For these children, the distress is very real, and hypnotherapy offers a safe, evidence-based way forward.
Drawing on years of experience and a calm, supportive approach, Kelly helps children understand and manage their pain, build confidence, and reconnect with their natural wellbeing.
Understanding Abdominal Pain in Children
Abdominal pain in children that cannot be explained by an identifiable physical cause is often referred to as functional abdominal pain. This type of pain is surprisingly common, particularly among children aged between 4 and 12. The discomfort may come and go or be more persistent, and in many cases, it’s linked to how a child’s brain and gut communicate.
The gut has its own nervous system, often called the “second brain”, and it responds to stress, worry, excitement, and emotional overload. Even after an infection or minor illness has resolved, the gut can remain sensitive, and the child may continue to feel pain in the absence of a clear trigger.
Many of the children we see at our clinic have undergone numerous medical tests and consultations, only to be told that “everything is normal”. While that can be reassuring in one sense, it can also leave families feeling lost and unsupported.
How Abdominal Pain in Children Affects Daily Life
Abdominal pain in children doesn’t just hurt, it can have a profound effect on a child’s confidence, behaviour, and wellbeing. Children might start avoiding school, stop joining in activities they used to enjoy, or become more withdrawn and anxious. Sleep can be disrupted, and some children develop a deep fear of their own body, convinced that something serious is being missed.
The impact can ripple through the whole family. Parents often report feeling helpless, anxious, or frustrated. Siblings may be affected too, as family life becomes centred around pain management and medical appointments. Over time, this can create stress patterns that reinforce the problem.
What many people don’t realise is that pain itself can become a habit. The brain and body form a feedback loop, meaning the more attention and worry the pain receives, the more it can persist. That’s why addressing the emotional and neurological aspects of abdominal pain in children, rather than focusing solely on the physical, is often the turning point.
How Hypnotherapy Can Help, Kelly’s Approach
“When a child realises they can influence how their body feels, it gives them back a sense of control. That’s often the turning point. We are not just calming symptoms, we are helping children feel safe again in their own bodies. That’s what really makes the difference.” – Kelly Hawkins-Wigglesworth
At the Surrey Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy, we take a gentle, child-led approach to treating abdominal pain in children. Kelly Hawkins-Wigglesworth brings a wealth of experience to their work with children, offering both in-person sessions at our Wallington, Surrey clinic, and secure online appointments.
Kelly offers a calm, reassuring space where children feel safe to express themselves and reconnect with their sense of control. Their styles are compassionate, straightforward, and engaging, helping children and families feel supported from the very first session.
Having worked as a performance coach for over a decade, Kelly combines clinical hypnotherapy with real-world understanding of how children respond to stress and how they can be supported to overcome it.
Shje also brings deep insight into emotional regulation and subconscious patterning, guiding children to shift how they respond to internal and external triggers.
Here’s how hypnotherapy helps:
- Reducing fear and worry , Many children with abdominal pain live in a constant state of anxiety, fearing the next flare-up. Hypnotherapy teaches them how to calm their nervous system and shift their focus.
- Changing the brain-gut response , Hypnosis works directly with the subconscious mind, helping the child’s brain and gut ‘re-learn’ a more natural, settled pattern of communication.
- Empowering children , Their work helps children rediscover their inner strength. They come to understand that they are not broken, and that their body can feel safe again.
- Strengthening resilience , Using age-appropriate language and techniques, hypnotherapy helps children build confidence in their body and mind, often with tools they can continue to use long after sessions end.
Kelly has helped children feel better within just a few sessions. Parents frequently report improvements not just in pain levels, but in overall mood, behaviour, and family harmony.
“We must never underestimate the power of imagination in a child. They live in that space every day. When we speak their language, change happens fast.”
Paul White Founder of TISPH
What the Research Says
The foundation of our work is built on the most up-to-date and compelling evidence available. A recent systematic review and network meta-analysis published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health (2025) marks a turning point in the treatment of abdominal pain in children.
This large-scale analysis reviewed multiple treatments for abdominal pain-related disorders of gut–brain interaction (AP-DGBI) and found that psychological therapies, particularly gut-directed hypnotherapy, stood out as the most effective. The results were clear: hypnotherapy led to significant reductions in pain intensity and notable improvements in overall wellbeing.
This study is more than just statistics. It confirms what many families and practitioners have long seen in practice, that targeting the brain–gut connection through hypnotherapy can make a life-changing difference for children.
These findings highlight the importance of addressing the brain–gut axis in treating abdominal pain in children. Hypnotherapy, by targeting this connection, offers a non-invasive and empowering approach for children, helping them regain control over their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Understanding Clinical Significance:
When reviewing research, it’s important to recognise the difference between statistical and clinical significance. A treatment might show a measurable difference on paper, but what matters most to parents is whether their child feels meaningfully better. In hypnotherapy studies, both statistical and clinical improvements are often reported, meaning children not only improved on scales but also felt better and returned to normal activities.
Why Choose SICH for Abdominal Pain in Children?
At the Surrey Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy, we understand how exhausting it can be to search for answers when your child is in pain. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to offer evidence-based, child-centred support that works in the real world, not just in theory.
Kelly Hawkins-Wigglesworth leads our paediatric hypnotherapy work with insight, warmth, and a belief in every child’s capacity to thrive. Whether your child has been struggling for months or years with abdominal pain, there is hope, and help.
You can arrange an initial consultation online or in person at our Wallington clinic. Together, we’ll explore what’s been going on for your child and how we can begin the journey towards comfort and confidence.