Sophrology for Children

Sophrology is becoming increasingly well-known—a technique often recommended to adults for managing stress, overcoming phobias, or improving sleep. However, children may also require support, particularly when facing academic, emotional, or behavioral challenges. How can we determine if this approach is right for our child? And what should we expect from the sessions? Laetitia Prat-Gilles, a sophrologist and hypnotherapist, responds to us.

What are the reasons for consulting a sophrologist for children, and in which situations is it highly recommended?

Parents seek support for their children for various reasons: to achieve better sleep, to learn emotional regulation, to overcome anger and fears, or to rebuild self-confidence. In the case of adolescents, requests often center around eating disorders or assistance with exam preparation.

I find that the children I work with are overwhelmed by constant activity and stimulation; an increasing number are suffering from stress and anxiety. In sophrology, we focus heavily on slowness and calmness—providing a moment of inactivity that allows them to reconnect with themselves.

In which cases are the most significant results observed?

In most cases, results are achieved very quickly (in fewer than 5 sessions). First and foremost, it is essential to gain the child’s buy-in; if the sessions are solely at the parent’s request and the child attends only to please them, the work will not be effective. I always make sure that the child finds both interest and enjoyment in the sessions.

What does a session entail?

These are short exercises that alternate between games, relaxation, learning to recognize bodily sensations through breathing, gentle body movements, and storytelling for younger children. I also work with Lise Bartoli’s creative cards to allow children to tell their own stories. Each session concludes with a drawing or a discussion about how the exercises felt.
From what age?

I welcome children starting from age 3, naturally tailoring the session length to their age, with sessions ranging from a maximum of 20 minutes for the youngest children up to 45 minutes for adolescents.

Is there any follow-up or short exercises to complete at home?

They often practice movement and breathing exercises at home to quickly regain a state of relaxation.