Gut-Brain Connection in Children: Can Nutrition and Hypnotherapy Really help the Mind and Emotional Wellbeing of your child?   

In today’s world, more children than ever are struggling with emotional wellbeing, anxiety, behavioural issues, and neurodevelopmental challenges. Conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, neurodivergent issues, anxiety, depression, sensory processing issues, fears, and childhood phobias are increasingly common. And yet, many families feel they’re not getting the real answers they need and searching for —only temporary fixes without last change.

But what if one of the most powerful tools to support your child’s emotional wellbeing isn’t found in a prescription—but in their gut, their diet, and their subconscious mind?

Welcome to the revolutionary world of the gut-brain connection, and the integrative, whole body and mind support offered by Claire Russell Therapy—combining Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy, Advanced RTT, Functional Registered Nutritionist, Integrative Psychotherapy, and Functional Medicine to transform children’s mental and emotional health.

Clinic Locations – In-Person & Online Support Available

Claire Russell Therapy is proud and privileged to work with and support children, teens, adults and families across Ireland from private clinics and consultation rooms in:

Limerick, Ireland
Newcastle West, County Limerick
Charleville, Fermoy, Midleton, Cork and Youghal, East Cork
Dungarvan, County Waterford
Remote ONLINE Video Calls Nationwide in Ireland, UK, USA, Australia and worldwide via secure online consultations

The Gut-Brain Connection: A Game-Changer for Children’s Mental Health

The gut is often referred to as the “second brain”—and for good reason. It’s home to trillions of microbes and produces about 90% of the body’s serotonin, the key neurotransmitter responsible for mood balance and emotional regulation.

When a child’s gut health is compromised—whether by processed foods, food intolerances, antibiotics, or emotional stress—their mental health often suffers. Symptoms can include:

  • Mood swings, Anger

  • Irritability and Low mood

  • Anxiety, social anxiety, school anxiety, stress

  • Difficulty focusing

  • Sleep disturbances, Insomnia

  • Anxiety, Depression

  • Hyperactivity

  • Sensory sensitivity and sensory issues

  • Hyperfocus on one task or struggling to focus at all.

  • High sensitivity to sounds, smells, or the feel of certain clothing on the skin

  • Behavioural challenges

  • Neurodivergent issues and Neurodivergent symptoms

Many of these signs are not just psychological—they are often combined with physiological responses to gut-brain dysfunction.

Nutrition for the Brain: Healing Through Food

As a Registered Nutritionist and Functional Medicine Practitioner, I assess and address how food may be triggering, inflaming, or healing your child’s symptoms and individual presenting issues.

✅ Food sensitivities (e.g., gluten, dairy, soy)
✅ Gut dysbiosis (imbalanced gut flora)
✅ Nutrient deficiencies (magnesium, zinc, B vitamins, iron, omega-3s)
✅ Blood sugar imbalances
✅ Inflammatory responses

These often play a key role in children experiencing:

  • Autism-related behaviours

  • Learning challenges

  • Emotional volatility

  • Social withdrawal

  • OCD or repetitive behaviours

  • Low energy and motivation

  • Lack of resilience or adaptability

With a tailored whole-food nutrition plan, gentle targeted lifestyle adjustments, and more, parents and families begin to see significant shifts in a child’s clarity, focus, behaviour, as well as mental and emotional steadiness.

The Power of Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy in Childhood Healing

Children’s fears, phobias, and emotional blocks often live in the subconscious mind. Hypnotherapy—especially when clinically applied with trauma-informed expertise—works at this deeper level to reframe beliefs, release fear, and restore emotional safety.

Hypnotherapy has been shown to help children overcome:

  • School refusal and social anxiety

  • Fear of dentists, doctors, hospitals, needles…

  • Nightmares, bedwetting, and sleep refusal

  • Fear of being alone, darkness, loud noises, or separation

  • Eating anxieties (e.g., ARFID, choking fears, vomiting fears)

  • Panic attacks, nail-biting, tics, or obsessive habits

  • Confidence issues, shyness, and perfectionism

  • Grief, loss, Seperation, PTSD, trauma, or bullying-related distress

With Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Advanced RTT – Rapid Transformational Therapy, children often feel relaxed, in control, and deeply supported—often achieving life-changing shifts in just a few sessions, or months depending on the individual chid and issues.

Client Testimonials : What Parents have told us

️ “We were at breaking point with my son’s anxiety and school refusal. Within two sessions with Claire, he was calm, sleeping better, and even excited to go back to class. She gave us tools we never knew existed.”
– Parent, Dungarvan

️ “Claire’s hypnotherapy has completely changed our daughter’s life and confidence. She went from huge fear of needles,  and absolutely terrified of the dentist to confidently sitting in the dentist chair this week! We and the family dentist were stunned—and so grateful!”
– Parent, Midleton

️ “My 8-year-old struggled with selective eating, restrictive eating,  severe gut pain, and complete meltdowns. The functional nutrition work we did with Claire and the hypnotherapy Claire designed for our little girl brought huge changes within a month of one to one hypnotherapy. We have our happy and (now healthy!) child back.”
– Parent, Limerick

️ “Two days ago was the first time in as long as we can ever remember where he said he had no pain. His pain was 24/7. Now we are seeing light.   Thank you for your guidance and treatment.   It’s a joy to see him come back to himself.   Totally depressing that the medical system totally failed him and just left him in non stop pain and said there was no cure!  So a massive thank you for helping him.  Still a long road ahead and we are learning with your help and tweaking things weekly, but with your help has helped us change everything to help him.   We can’t thank you enough.”
– Parent, West Cork

️ “Claire was the first professional who actually looked beyond the behaviour and really understood my child. Her approach is compassionate, sincere, scientific, and incredibly effective. Even my parents have been blown away by her genuine care and attention to detail.”
– Parent, Youghal Cork

️ “I can’t recommend Claire highly enough. My child had intense fears, especially around sleep, the dark, and being alone. Hypnotherapy and some combined work with Claire worked so gently and naturally. Now bedtime is peaceful for the first time in years.”
– Parent, Newcastle West Limerick

More Scientific Evidence Behind My Approach

Cryan & Dinan (2012) – The impact of the gut microbiota on brain and behaviour.
Vlieger et al. (2007) – Hypnotherapy for functional abdominal pain in children.
Pelsser et al. (2011) – Dietary interventions in children with ADHD: A randomised trial.
Mayer et al. (2015) – Gut-brain axis and emotional regulation: microbiome interactions.

These studies confirm what we see in clinic every day: the brain and gut are inseparable, and addressing both creates lasting, meaningful change in children’s health and wellbeing.

A Complete Solution for Children, Teenagers, Young People and Families

At Claire Russell Therapy, I offer a unique integration of:

Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy, RTT and Clinical Hypnotherapy
Registered Nutritionist services
Psychotherapy and trauma-informed counselling
Functional Medicine
Behavioural and emotional resilience tools
Parental support and coaching

Each child is supported as a whole person, and every plan is individual and personalised to your child’s individual needs and requirements

Let’s Begin Your Teenagers or Child’s Healing Journey

Whether you’re in Limerick, Cork, Waterford, or seeking support from anywhere in Ireland, UK, Australia or abroad ONLINE, I’m here to help.

In-person therapy appointments:

  • Limerick

  • Newcastle West  Limerick

  • Midleton & Youghal East Cork

  • Dungarvan Waterford

Online consultations available throughout Ireland, UK, UAE, USA, Australia remotely via Zoom, Skype nationwide and internationally

Book your free discovery call or initial consultation today.

Ring or text Claire Russell Therapy  087 616 6638
[Contact Claire at clairerusselltherapy.com ]
[clairerusselltherapy@gmail.com]

Claire Russell Therapy
Registered Nutritionist | Clinical Medical Hypnotherapist | Psychotherapist | Advanced Rapid Transformational Therapist  | Functional Medicine Nutritionist          
A complete, evidence-based therapeutic solution for children’s anxiety, autism, ADHD, ADD issues, neurodiverse issues, focus, concentration, confidence, self esteem, fears, phobias, trauma, and emotional wellbeing