Hypnotherapy Strategies for Dyslexia

Dyslexia mainly affects people’s ability to develop literacy skills but the impact is far wider on those who experience this specific learning difficulty.  As Hypnotherapists, we are particularly interested in helping our clients deal with the emotional aspects of dyslexia which are in themselves intrinsically linked to their cognitive abilities.

Those with dyslexia often experience learning barriers that are difficult to address using conventional teaching methods but are ideally suited to a Hypnotherapist who understands how the unconscious mind affects learning and behaviour.  It is estimated that around 10% of the population have dyslexia although many of these have not been formally identified within the education system.  In recent years, there has been less of a tendency to see dyslexia as a medical condition and more recognition that it reflects a different way of learning.  An understanding of the way that the left and right side of the brain specialise in different styles of thinking helps us make sense of how people with dyslexia have been challenged during their studies.

Formal education is highly structured and appeals to those who have a dominant proclivity for left-brained learning. A preference for logical approaches, an emphasis on facts and figures and a tendency to measure performance through standardised testing appeal to those who favour a left-brained learning style.  Those who are more spontaneous, visually-orientated and lateral in their learning style are not so easily accommodated. It is this style of learning that is associated with dyslexia, as people who fall into this category generally demonstrate a strong preference for using the right side of their brain.

There are many successful people who have excelled in their fields who reportedly have dyslexia.  Sir Richard Branson was a poor performer at school due to his dyslexia and yet his approach to business reflects the vision, creativity and drive inherent in those who have this learning style.  Albert Einstein, whose name is synonymous with the very concept of genius, was also dyslexic.  Walt Disney, Leonardo da Vinci, Mohammed Ali, Agatha Christie and numerous others in a range of professional endeavours have also triumphed with dyslexia despite poor educational performance in their early lives.

Whether clients with dyslexia approach us for help re-building the self- esteem that was undermined during their formal education or are seeking more effective study methods to help them succeed in life, there are many strategies and approaches that we can offer as Hypnotherapists.

In our hypnotherapy training we help you to understand the key features of dyslexia and how they affect people’s ability to learn.  You will also discover how, as a Hypnotherapist, you can install learning strategies that bypass the critical factor of the conscious mind and help clients overcome their limitations and develop the confidence to accomplish their goals in life. Most importantly, you will learn how to help them overcome the emotional barriers that are holding them back in life.  By recognising how dyslexia offers exceptional strengths and unique assets, you will be able to help your client stop ‘suffering’ from dyslexia and start celebrating it.

by Liz Amesbury

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