Today, I’d like to share a story that deeply moved me.
It’s the story of Corentin, a 9-year-old boy — as brilliant as he is sensitive. Corentin is an exemplary student, always very diligent. His grades are excellent: he consistently scores 5.5 or 6 (top marks). Everything seems to be going perfectly.
And yet, as the ECR exams (standardized cantonal tests in French-speaking Switzerland) approach, a deep fear begins to take hold in him.
He’s convinced he’s going to fail. He’s afraid of getting a 4 or a 4.5. Even though he’s ahead and has all the required skills, the anxiety won’t let go. His mother tells him, day after day, that there’s no reason to worry. But that isn’t enough to calm what he feels inside.
While his mother is telling me all this, Corentin is drawing on the whiteboard. I watch him sketching shapes, focused. I gently ask him what he’s drawing. He explains that it’s a Mario Kart course. Mario has to jump from platform to platform, avoid turtles and angry fish, and above all, not fall into the water. If he misses a jump, he falls.
That drawing was much more than a game — it was a clear metaphor for what Corentin was experiencing internally.
So I entered his world. I proposed we draw a parallel between his Mario Kart course and the ECR exams. That he was Mario Corentin. That the tests were the obstacles. And falling into the water — that was getting a 4. But he had lots of extra lives (like his great grades), and he was really good at dodging traps. He knew what to do.
Little by little, his expression softened. A smile appeared on his face. He felt understood. And he said to me, “OK cool, I’m ready to come on the table with you and I want to make the fear go away.”
When we enter a child’s world, everything becomes simpler
Children don’t respond to logic and reason the way adults do. Their world is made of images, sensations, games, and symbols. When we take the time to meet them where they are — in their language, in their universe — real connection becomes possible. And that connection is often the key to their transformation.
Kinesiology to soothe fears
After creating that safe and trusting space, we moved into bodywork. I supported Corentin using kinesiology tools, especially Touch for Health. This approach uses muscle testing to identify stress and rebalance the body’s energy through specific points, gentle movements, and corrections.
To go further, we also used eye movement techniques — a powerful tool for releasing stress linked to fears or specific situations. It helps the brain process information differently and deactivate automatic fear responses.
Through this session, Corentin was able to change his relationship with the ECR exams. He left feeling light, smiling, and — most importantly — confident. He said to me:
“I’m not afraid of the ECR anymore.”
When a child feels understood, they can access their own inner strength
What this story shows is that comforting a child with words is not always enough. They need to feel truly heard in what they are experiencing. When we acknowledge their emotional reality and help them make sense of it, they can access their own inner resources.
It’s in the bridge between their world and ours that the magic happens.
If you’d like to support your child through fears, stress, or school-related challenges, I’d be happy to welcome you to my practice in Pully for personalized kinesiology sessions.
📍 Book a session or learn more: https://blossomtherapies.ch/prendre-rv
