Hypnotherapy for Fear & Phobias
Irrational fear can be debilitating. It can prevent us from living a rich and fulfilling life, and keep us in an unnecessary state of anxiety.
When Fear Becomes A Problem
Fear serves a purpose. Fear prevents us from risking our personal safety, and keeps us alive and safe.
However, fear can become overwhelming, and we can develop irrational fears, such as a fear of flying, a fear of heights, or social anxiety. When fear starts to take over your life it can be debilitating, and limit both our enjoyment of life, and our ability to live life to the fullest.
If you’re struggling to overcome fear, hypnotherapy could help you.
How Fear Affects The Brain
Fear, like other emotions that we sometimes label as being “negative”, such as anger and anxiety, serves a purpose. Symptoms such as increased heart rate, faster breathing, sweaty palms, a churning stomach, can alert us to real dangers, helping us to stay safe.
Our subconscious mind is very reliant upon learnt patterns of behaviours when deciding how to respond to specific stimuli. In some cases, we subconsciously store negative patterns of behaviour associated with a specific experience or object, which trigger an inappropriate level of fear.
As this happens at a subconscious level, it can feel as though we have no control over it.
What Are Some Of The Most Common Fears / Phobias
Amaxophobia: Fear of driving
Aquaphobia: Fear of water
Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders
Astraphobia: Fear of storms
Claustrophobia: Fear of confined or tight spaces
Dentophobia: Fear of dentists
Glossophobia: Fear of public speaking
Hemophobia: Fear of blood
Monophobia: Fear of being alone
Mysophobia: Fear of germs
Nosocomephobia: Fear of hospitals
Nyctophobia: Fear of the dark
Ornithophobia: Fear of birds
Thalassophobia: Fear of deep water
Trypanophobia: Fear of needles
Zoophobia: Fear of animals
What Are The Symptoms Of Fear
Feeling hot or cold
Unable to think clearly
An adrenaline 'rush'
Increased heart rate or palpitations
Shortness of breath
Shaking and trembling
Need to go to the toilet
Digestive issues
Irritability or 'jumpiness'
It's normal to experience some or all of these symptoms in everyday life, but if they occur frequently without a clear reason or from minimal triggers, it might be time to consider seeking help.
How Can Hypnotherapy Help With Fear & Phobias
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help calm the anxious primitive mind and bring fear under control. We'll explore why you feel fearful and what you can do to address it. We’ll also work on creating an empowering alternative narrative, helping you visualize a preferred future free from fear, and take small, manageable steps toward that vision.
For more specific fears, we can use quick, safe techniques to calm the emotional reactions associated with particular fear triggers. Finally, we engage the subconscious mind through hypnosis, reinforcing the desired future.
These techniques are grounded in proven brain science, utilizing a natural process that can effectively neutralize the fear response.
Stephen Hardy
DSFH, HPD, AfSFH, MNCH Reg.
I’m a clinical solution-focused hypnotherapist and coach.
My mission is to help people have more fulfilling, fun lives and careers.
As a clinical hypnotherapist, I work with both the conscious and subconscious minds, using a combination of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, CBT, and Neuroscience, mixed in with my experience of working in senior corporate positions.
The goal is to enable rapid positive change, through helping clients reframe their thinking, and creating new patterns of behaviour. It’s a positive, fun approach.
Testimonials
Free Discovery Call
We'll spend 30 minutes exploring your current challenges and establishing whether Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy is a good fit for you.
The relationship between a therapist and a client is fundamental to the success of any engagement. This is an opportunity to get to know me and find out if my style of engagement would work for you.
You will gain a fresh perspective on what's been holding you back, and confidence in your ability to move forward in life.
An opportunity for you to ask me any questions or address any concerns you may have.
FAQs
What is Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy? How does it differ from traditional therapy?
I take a holistic approach to supporting clients, addressing the cause of their problems, not just the symptoms. Unlike some other therapies, I don’t focus on a client’s issues beyond gaining an initial understanding. I also don’t perform any regression work or focus on past trauma. Sessions are conducted in a solution-focused manner, helping clients move forward with their lives. I use a combination of NLP, CBT, neuroscience, and hypnotherapy to facilitate rapid change in our clients. The goal of solution-focused hypnotherapy is to enable rapid, sustainable change.
I’ve struggled to overcome a specific fear / phobia for many years now. How can you help me address it so quickly?
Typically 3-4 sessions are enough to address a specific fear / phobia.
Our brain is constantly processing negative thoughts and experiences, helping us move on, especially during the R.E.M. part of our sleep cycle.
You’ll be familiar with this process. Imagine you go to bed in a bad mood, fired up after a dispute with a colleague or family member. After a good night sleep you wake up and have suddenly gained perspective. Most of the emotion has gone, and you can take a rational approach to addressing the situation.
The process I use when addressing fear and phobias is similar to the R.E.M. process.
Can you guarantee the success of the treatment?
The process I use to address fear and phobias is proven and highly effective.
The goal is to tone down the power of the subconscious, emotional response triggered by that specific situation / object. This gives you the space and clarity of mind to react in a more rational manner.
However no hypnotherapist can make you do something. How you react to a trigger is still your choice.
Do you provide online sessions, and if so, are they as effective as in-person sessions?
Yes and yes!
Since Covid, many people have developed a preference for online interactions. The bulk of my sessions are now conducted over Zoom, giving clients the opportunity to relax within the comfort of their own homes.
The only request is that you ensure you have access to decent WiFi and are in a place where you can comfortably relax with minimal distractions.