As children growing up, we know no fear until we learn it. You have seen over the years anxious parents watching their child on a slide or climbing frame oblivious to any danger that the parents see. Some fears of course are important for us to learn, helping us to avoid what is dangerous, but so many other fears are irrational but fill us with the same dread. When a fear starts to disrupt your daily life, it’s possible you may be suffering from a phobia.

People with phobias will often try to avoid the situation or object that starts or triggers their phobia. How their life is affected depends on the nature and severity of the phobia.

Someone who is scared of spiders may simply not be able to touch or hold one. Others may not be able to be in the same room as a spider they can see. Someone else might not be able to see even a picture of a spider and could even boycott television or films which may include spiders. These effects can be powerful.

Hypnosis can be effective in desensitising the phobia and showing the client how best to relax and remove any anxieties while providing methods of relaxation should confrontation of the fear occur in the future. As soon as the client begins to see positive signs of understanding their fear the phobia can begin to diminish to a manageable level.