Controlling Your Gut Feelings® is an online program for ages 8-21 to overcome IBS and functional digestive issues, without medications or restrictive diets.
Weekly lessons include:
If your child is dealing with chronic stomach pain, unpredictable bowel symptoms, or anxiety around eating and digestion, you’re not alone. Controlling Your Gut Feelings® addresses the root cause of IBS—the gut-brain connection—giving your child the skills they need for lasting relief and confidence.
This program will empower patients to take the reins back and steer themselves toward recovery.
Dr. Lazarus employs proven, drug-free medical techniques, all the while using easy-to-understand language and friendly animations to engage patients of all ages.
— Carly Wilbur, MD, FAAP, Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
What makes our approach different
IBS isn’t just a digestive problem—it’s a gut-brain communication problem. When the signals between your child’s brain and digestive system are disrupted, normal gut function becomes hypersensitive and reactive.
Traditional treatments focus only on the gut (through diet restrictions or medications). We address the root cause: retraining the gut-brain connection so your child’s digestive system can function normally again.
The results your child deserves
Your child will gain control over stomach pain and cramping and return to normalized bowel function.
They can expect to feel less bloating and digestive discomfort and experience an improved appetite and comfortable eating.
With increased control over symptoms and having accidents, children develop a confidence to eat, go to school, and feel better around using bathrooms or being away from home.
You can expect improved overall emotional wellbeing.
When your child gains control over the symptoms and anxiety, they will confidently attend school regularly without fear.
Accepting invitations to social events and sleepovers and participating in sports and activities will return without anxiety.
The self-hypnosis techniques taught in the program can be used whenever needed.
Your child will learn cognitive tools for managing stress and anxiety and gain a deep understanding of their mind-body connection that will benefit them for life.
Dr. Lazarus explains IBS, the gut-brain connection, how healing works, and why this approach is effective.
Through 8 video lessons, your child learns medical hypnosis techniques for calming the gut, cognitive strategies for managing thoughts and anxiety, and motivational tools for staying engaged and hopeful.
Your child practices the techniques regularly using guided hypnosis sessions and worksheets to track progress and celebrate wins.
Most kids notice improvement within 1-4 weeks, with continued progress over 2-3 months.
The program consists of 8 video lessons, which are simple, short, and digestible (pun intended!) and range from 5 to 20 minutes in length.
Whether you or your child prefers working from the computer, or watching on the phone or tablet, we’ve got you covered.
Fun and easy homework assignments help reinforce skills learned in each lesson, helping your child track progress and celebrate wins.
Children & Teens (Ages 8-18)
If your child or teenager has been diagnosed with IBS, functional abdominal pain, or other digestive issues, this program provides the tools they need for relief. Research with this approach specifically shows exceptional results in this age group, with studies documenting up to 88% improvement rates in children and adolescents ages 8-18.
Younger children (8-12) may work through the program with parent support, while teens (13-18) often prefer more independence with parent guidance available.
Young Adults (18-21)
If you’re a young adult dealing with IBS, this program is equally effective for you. Research shows that gut-directed hypnotherapy works across all age groups, and there’s no drop-off in effectiveness in young adulthood. In fact, studies demonstrate that “patient age appears to account for very little of the variance in clinical outcomes.”
You can work through the program independently or with family support—whatever feels right for you.
Why 8-21 specifically?
This age range represents a critical period when the brain is still highly plastic and adaptable. Research shows that gut-directed hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioral approaches are particularly effective during these years when your nervous system can more easily learn new patterns.
Published studies demonstrate that:
Dr. Lazarus has used these research-backed approaches in clinical practice for over 25+ years, helping children, teens, and young adults find relief from digestive disorders.
The 4-week program consists of 8 video lessons that your child can work through at their own pace. Practice continues beyond that, with most kids seeing significant improvement quickly.
Research shows high success rates, particularly in children, teens, and young adults ages 8-21. Published studies document 85-88% success rates in the 8-18 age range, and research confirms the techniques work equally well in young adults. Results vary by individual, but most families see meaningful improvement when they practice consistently.
Absolutely! Research shows that gut-directed hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioral approaches work across all age groups, with “patient age accounting for very little of the variance in clinical outcomes.” While we emphasize younger ages 8-18 because that’s where the most pediatric research has been conducted, the same techniques are proven highly effective in adults, including young adults like you. The gut-brain retraining works especially well during your age range when your nervous system is still highly adaptable. Many 18-21 year-olds complete the program independently with excellent results.
That’s normal, and we address it! The motivational tools help engage even skeptical kids. The program is designed to be interesting and accessible, not like a lecture or boring.
No! Everything your child needs is included in the program. No special equipment, no supplements to buy, no ongoing costs.
Currently, the program is self-pay. However, it’s significantly less expensive than ongoing therapy or specialist visits, and some families have successfully sought reimbursement using HSA/FSA funds.
Dr. Lazarus is a Stanford-trained pediatrician and medical hypnotherapist with over 25 years of experience treating functional gastrointestinal disorders in children and adults.
He’s helped patients find relief from IBS, functional abdominal pain, cyclic vomiting, and other digestive issues using evidence-based mind-body approaches.
His work has been recognized internationally by leading gastroenterologists and pediatricians, and he regularly trains other healthcare providers in these techniques.
“My goal is simple: help kids feel better so they can live fully. Every child deserves to feel comfortable in their own body and confident in their ability to handle whatever comes their way.”
— Dr. Jeff Lazarus
Schedule a free 20-minute consultation to discuss your child’s specific situation and whether telemedicine treatment is right for you.
During the consultation, we’ll:
Get instant access to the Controlling Your Gut Feelings® video program, the same techniques Dr. Lazarus uses in his office available for families anywhere.
What’s Included:
Your child doesn’t have to keep suffering with IBS symptoms. They don’t have to miss out on school, activities, and social opportunities. And they don’t have to rely on medications or restrictive diets that don’t address the real problem.
With Controlling Your Gut Feelings®, your child will learn natural, powerful skills that address the root cause of IBS and last a lifetime.
Thousands of families have found relief through this approach.
Your family can find relief too!
