Fears & Phobias

Simple specific phobias - 3 to 4 sessions

Complex phobias - 8 to 12 sessions

A phobia is an overwhelming and debilitating fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal.  Phobias are more pronounced than fears. They develop when a person has an exaggerated or unrealistic sense of danger about a situation or object.

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If a phobia becomes very severe, a person may organise their life around avoiding the thing that's causing them anxiety. As well as restricting their day-to-day life, it can also cause a lot of distress.

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A phobia is an anxiety disorder symptoms may show until contact with the source of  the phobia.  In some cases, even thinking about the source of a phobia can make a person feel anxious or panicky. This is known as anticipatory anxiety.

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Types of phobia

But phobias can be divided into 2 main categories:​

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Specific or simple phobias

Centre around a particular object, animal, situation etc. Often developing in childhood they may get less severe with age.  E.g.

• animal phobias – such as dogs, spiders, snakes or rodents

• environmental phobias – such as heights, deep water, germs

• situational phobias – such as visiting the dentist or flying

• bodily phobias – such as blood, vomit or having injections

• sexual phobias –performance anxiety or the fear an STI.

Complex phobias

Are more disabling & they usually develop during adulthood,  associated with a fear or anxiety about a particular situation.

The 2 most common complex phobias are:

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• agoraphobia - being in a place where escaping may be difficult during a panic attack

• social phobia - feeling anxious in social situations, speaking in front of people, being humiliated in public.

What causes phobias?

There are a number of associated factors e.g.,

• maybe an association with a particular incident or trauma

• maybe a learned response from a parent or sibling

• genetics, some people could be born to be more anxious 

With Solution Focused Hypnotherapy at The Willows Hypnotherapy I can provide support to manage & alleviate phobias & fears.  Using a process called "rewind & reframe" after any complex anxieties are resolved we can reset the mind to be able to manage & potentially eliminate the phobic response.

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By using a combination of psychotherapy techniques and trance I can facilitate the process of recovery and by explaining how the brain works, why & how phobias are created and what we can do about it my client's are active & engaged in all the sessions.  This process allows the client to think more clearly, rationally.