When I was training to become a hypnotherapist, our course tutor asked, “Does anyone have a phobia?” I hesitated, then raised my hand. He grinned and said, “Great! Want me to try hypnotherapy on you? I need a volunteer.” My immediate reaction? Absolutely not!
You see, I didn’t think my fear of spiders — commonly known as arachnophobia — was the issue. To me, the real problem was that everyone else wasn’t scared enough of those creepy monsters! I was perfectly fine avoiding them, thank you very much. But as the training went on, a nagging thought crept in: how could I help others conquer their fears if I wasn’t willing to face mine? Plus, let’s be honest, life would be a lot nicer without that heart-pounding panic every time I spotted a spider scuttling across my floor.
So, I struck a deal with myself. I’d try hypnotherapy for arachnophobia to dial down the fear, but I wasn’t about to become best friends with spiders — no pet tarantulas for me! Did you know arachnophobia often blends two feelings: fear and disgust? I was ready to let go of the fear part, but not the repulsion. I asked a fellow hypnotherapy student to work with me, and off we went.
The results were… well, bizarrely brilliant. Immediately, from the first session, imagining something that would have been a nightmare scenario before, did not set off the familiar panic.
And I had the weirdest dreams. I dreamt about massive, white, gelatinous spiders, deconstructed and gloopy. Disgusting? Yes. Terrifying? No. I also dreamt about gigantic purple spider bones buried beneath a rock. Again, I wonderedin the dream if I should be frightened, but noted I wasn't. Then there was a dream about a train carriage plastered with black-and-white posters of spider eyes. In the dream, I wandered around, unsure where to sit because every seat faced a poster. I was worried if I sat next to a close up picture of spider eyes I would be scared, but I noted I was not scared. I just studied them, feeling calm.
Those dreams were my mind’s way of processing the change. Using monochrome to imagine something frightening or disturbing is a technique that might be used in hypnotherapy — it hadn’t been for me — and here was the same technique being exercised by my own subconscious. Clever subconscious!
The real test came later when a huge house spider invaded my space. No ‘freeze, fight or flight’ response, no racing heart, just a calm “right, you’re out of here.” (Yes, I killed it, sorry, spider fans.) Then, recently, I was scrolling on Instagram and zoomed in on a spider photo without thinking, to take a better look at it. Old me would have scrolled past it fast.
That’s the power of hypnotherapy for phobias — it can rewire how you respond, often faster than you’d expect.
Are you curious about what else it can tackle? Let’s dive in.
How does hypnotherapy for phobias work?
In my practice, I primarily use a technique called hypno-desensitisation, which is both effective and gentle. This method involves guiding you into a deeply relaxed state — hypnosis — where we work with your subconscious mind to lessen the fear response, by ‘exposing’ you step by step, to gradually reduce the intensity of your fear.
The process is entirely safe and controlled, with no need to confront your phobia in real life during sessions. Instead, we use visualisation (also known as imaginal exposure) to reframe how your mind perceives the trigger. You’re in control throughout, deciding how far we go in each session. This approach avoids overwhelm, making it a comfortable and empowering experience. Many clients notice a very positive shift within one to three sessions, depending on the phobia’s severity.
But we don’t start with hypno-desensitisation. First I take a full case history and will plan the following sessions with you to reduce your symptoms as much as possible and achieve your goals. Sometimes, there are other beliefs or fears that underscore the phobia, and those might need to be resolved with other integrated therapeutic techniques. And sometimes you might need to do some 'homework' in the form self-hypnosis and small, manageable challenges between sessions.
Types of phobias explained
Fear is an essential survival instinct. For as long as people have experienced the emotion of fear there have been phobias, therefore phobias can be seen as a maladaptive expression of this response. Phobias are not ‘silly’, they are real fears and very common.
You might think there is no other explanation for your fear other than the thing is actually frightening, but phobias can have different causes...
The phobia may be the product of severe stress, whereby stress materialises as a phobia about another thing — that object or situation can be avoided rather than the true stimulus.
The phobia may result from a repetitive exposure to a series of experiences occurring over a period of years, which have built up into an excessive anxiety.
The phobia may be the product of a fear of fear, such as the fear of a panic attack.
Phobias can be learnt from someone else, especially a role model like a family member.
Phobias also fall into two main categories: simple and complex, each with distinct characteristics.
Simple phobias focus on a specific object or situation. They often begin in childhood or adolescence and may lessen with time for some. These include:
Animal phobias, such as spiders, snakes, dogs, or rodents.
Natural environment phobias, such as heights, water, darkness, storms, or germs.
Situational phobias, flying, visiting the dentist, tunnels, small spaces, or escalators.
Body-based phobias, such as blood, vomiting, injections, choking, or medical procedures.
Sexual phobias, related to sexual acts or nudity.
Other phobias, which can have unusual triggers like certain foods or costumed characters.
Complex phobias tend to develop in adulthood and have a broader, more disruptive impact. The two most prevalent are:
Social phobia: a deep-seated fear of social situations, such as speaking or being observed.
Agoraphobia: anxiety about open spaces or scenarios where escape feels challenging, like public transport or being outside alone.
Why consider hypnotherapy for phobias?
While there’s no magic cure, hypnotherapy for phobias offers a practical and often swift path to improvement. In my experience, clients typically see progress within one to three sessions, though this varies. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness someone move past their fear — whether that’s boarding a plane confidently, facing spiders down, or calmly climbing into the dentist's chair.
If a phobia is holding you back, I’d be delighted to help. Feel free to get in touch — I’d love to support you in finding freedom from fear.
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