Overcome Fears and Phobias
Phobias are intense, irrational fears triggered by situations , objects or animals or experiences. I’ve successfully treated clients with phobias ranging from fear of flying, of spiders or dogs through to claustrophobia and fear of driving.
Having these phobias can often start to impact your life, both at work, socially and in relationships. But the fact is that it does not have to be that way. In the same way our brain has made the ‘pattern match’ with fear & a particular trigger, we can also undo or ‘rewire’ that linkage. Perhaps more quickly that many of us would think is possible. Perhaps take a look at some of my Google reviews to her from past clients themselves. Or check out my short video below explaining how this can be achieved.
Phobias generally split into two types – Simple phobias, which involve a fear of a specific object or situation or specific activity. For example, a fear of dogs or flying. These are the most common phobias and can usually be resolved through hypnotherapy in 3-4 sessions*. They link to a specific fear ‘template’ in the mind, which is where we focus to replace it with a more positive, non-emotional template- whilst using techniques such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming [NLP] to address the original fear template.
And there are also ‘complex phobias’. These tend to be more disabling and are often linked with a other deep-rooted fears or anxiety , that might have multiple sources and triggers For example, claustrophobia [fear of confined spaces] often is triggered by lifts ,by travelling by trains or planes, where you cannot easily get out. Or even rooms that feel too small or that are crowded.
How the rewired approach to phobias is so effective….
Check out this video on how a combined approach with positive therapy techniques, clinical hypnotherapy and NLP has helped clients to make progress to beat phobias in 4-5 weeks
Hypnotherapy and NLP are key parts of my approach to resolving your fear
Hypnotherapy and Solution-focused therapy offers a unique and effective solution. By guiding a person into a deeply relaxed, focused state where the subconscious mind becomes more open to suggestion and positive change. This makes it especially effective in addressing the root causes of phobias. Sometimes these are formed during early childhood or after a traumatic experience. Read more here about Why Hypnotherapy works
*As with any treatment or therapy, there are no guarantees. Everyones case is slightly different and respond at a different speed
Which phobias are you able to successfully help me to overcome ?
I use a unique combination of clinical hypnotherapy, NLP techniques as well as positive coaching and outlining how scientific research shows how our brains can ‘rewire’ habits or fears, perhaps more simply than we might have imagined.
· Fear of Flying or Aviophobia: For those affected, even the thought of boarding a plane can cause panic. Read more here with my in depth feature, for this common phobia that effects c 15% of UK adults [According to Anxiety UK]
· Social phobia – or social anxiety disorder : I’ve seen many clients with this condition, which can generate an overwhelming fear of being judged or embarrassed in social settings. This can create issues in social life as well as at work and can lead to coping techniques such as isolating or missing work.
· Fear of spiders or arachnophobia : this area originally prompted my interest in hypnotherapy and then to train and gain my professional qualifications.
My wife had an intense fear of spiders, anything from a daddy long legs to house spiders. She attended a one-day London Zoo hypnotherapy and exposure course-and now makes a point of handling very large tarantulas at the school where she works. The transformation was overnight and has lasted over a decade to date.
· Claustrophobia or a fear of enclosed spaces : respond well to this method, as hypnotherapy gently alters ingrained fear responses.
–Fear of Heights or Acrophobia: A fear of heights that can trigger dizziness or panic , for example in ski gondolas or on escalators. And even in apparently safe environments like balconies. I’ve had a number of clients this year where their fear of heights has led to them dreading ski holidays, even though they have enjoyed ski-ing all of their life. After 6 sessions with rewired, they were back on the slopes with a smile – and even scrambling up Mountains.
· Fear of vomiting or Emetophobia: This fear of sickness, either oneself or others, can lead to severe avoidance of food, public places, or travel. And from my experience, seems to be on the increase , especially amongst the under 20’s. Often triggered by an experience when younger, this fear can grow rapidly and be all consuming in terms of the way it restricts lives. I’ve successfully treated a number of younger female clients with the condition. It is not straightforward and can take a higher number of sessions than many phobias. Often the triggers and causes are not always with food. But once the breakthrough is made, clients often directly face their fear and are sick, describing it as a feeling of intense relief and elation – as it is nowhere near as bad as their mind has built it up to be.
· Dentophobia: Fear of dentists, often stemming from childhood experiences, which can prevent people from seeking vital dental care.
· Misophonia or fear of specific sounds , leading to intense emotional reactions and often anger, out of place with the trigger: most commonly this can be sounds made by humans in day to day interactions, such as chewing loudly. But it was be grating sounds [eg metal on glass] or repetitive sounds. My approach focuses on our ability to use the mind to ‘turn down’ the volume or these sounds and to remove the pattern match to severe anxious or angry responses. Often the trigger is connected to control issues or relationships with the specific individuals making the noise. i.e. noises can be fine in location A but at location B [often at home], they can be a huge and stressful issue.
· Fear of Needles or Trypanophobia: Fear of needles or injections is now commonplace,having rocketed during the Pandemic and the mandatory vaccine requirements for COVID. Even before the pandemic, surveys already showed that about 10–25% of UK adults exhibitedmoderate to high needle anxiety
During the mass COVID‑19 vaccination program though , concern over injections spiked dramatically. In 2022, Hypnotherapy Directory reported a 1,600% increase in UK users seeking information about needle phobia over just four months, compared to the previous year . This surge suggests many people who’d previously avoided needles were now urgently confronting their fears to receive COVID jabs.
This YouGov Survey and article is a useful source of facts and figures on phobias and how widespread they are in the population. You might feel that your fear is very niche or unusual, but don’t worry- I’ve seen many , many cases and we will be able to work together to overcome it.
· Fear of the dark or Nyctophobia: An intense fear of the dark, often linked to childhood trauma or imagination-driven anxiety.
By identifying the source of the phobia and using guided imagery, calming language, and suggestion, hypnotherapy helps individuals create new, healthier mental associations.
While results vary [and will depend on the individual and cannot be guaranteed], many people report lasting relief after just a 3-4 sessions, making hypnotherapy a valuable option for those ready to reclaim control from fear.