NOVEMBER 1999, VOLUME 27, NUMBER 2, Abstract 4
The Case of How the Boogie Man Disappeared
Anastasia Contos, Psychologist
Ben was an 11-year-old boy referred by a general practitioner for a sleeping disorder and night-time fears. He was treated with hypnosis over two sessions with the goals of lowering his anxiety as well as freeing him from taking emotional responsibility for his parents and his sister. Hypnotherapy, using direct techniques, was successful in helping Ben overcome his sleeping problem. The indirect hypnotic technique of storytelling was utilised to help Ben individuate and become free of emotional burden he carried for his mother, father and sister. Therapy was terminated as soon as the presenting problem was resolved and some of the underlying emotional issues had been dealt with. Overall, therapy was a positive experience for Ben and he felt hypnosis had helped him to master his problems. His mother was also relieved that Ben’s fear of a boogie man in the heating ducts had vanished, together with his generalised anxiety. As a result, the whole family was able to sleep better at night.