Fears & Phobias
Understanding fears and phobias — and how hypnotherapy can help
Fears and phobias are far more common than many people realise. Around one in ten people experience a significant fear or phobia at some point in their lives.
They arise when the body’s fight-or-flight response is triggered by something the brain perceives as dangerous — even when there is no real threat. While this response exists to protect us, it can become unhelpful when it’s activated in everyday situations.
For many people, fears and phobias can feel limiting, frustrating, or embarrassing — particularly when they “don’t make sense” logically.
What fears and phobias can feel like
A fear or phobia may involve:
intense anxiety or panic in specific situations
physical symptoms such as racing heart, breathlessness, shaking, or nausea
avoidance of places, activities, or objects
feeling out of control or overwhelmed by fear
anticipating fear before the situation even arises
Often people know the fear is irrational — yet the body reacts anyway.
Why fears and phobias develop
Fears and phobias are learned responses stored in the subconscious.
Sometimes they can be traced back to a single experience; other times they develop gradually or without a clear memory of when they began. What matters is not whether the original situation was objectively dangerous, but how it was experienced by the nervous system at the time.
The brain’s intention is protective — it is trying to keep you safe — but the response becomes outdated or exaggerated.
How hypnotherapy can help with fears and phobias
Hypnotherapy works directly with the subconscious patterns that maintain fear responses.
In a calm, focused state, the nervous system can begin to:
reassess perceived threats
reduce automatic fight-or-flight reactions
respond more appropriately to feared situations
regain a sense of control and choice
Hypnotherapy is not about forcing exposure or pushing you into fear. The work is gentle, paced, and collaborative, and you remain fully aware and in control throughout.
Many people find hypnotherapy a highly effective approach for phobias, often noticing meaningful changes within a relatively small number of sessions — though this varies between individuals.
Common fears and phobias I work with
There are hundreds of different fears and phobias. Some of the more common ones include:
fear of flying
fear of spiders (arachnophobia)
fear of heights (acrophobia)
fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia)
agoraphobia (fear of being away from home or in public spaces)
fear of vomiting (emetophobia)
dental phobia
fear of needles or medical procedures
fear of driving or specific roads
social phobia or fear of being judged
I also regularly work with less common or more specific fears. You do not need to fit a category for support to be helpful.
A body-based, trauma-aware approach
My work combines clinical hypnotherapy and mindfulness, informed by nervous-system and trauma-aware principles.
Rather than simply removing symptoms, we focus on:
helping the body feel safer
reducing reactivity
working at a pace that feels manageable
supporting lasting change rather than short-term coping
This approach is particularly helpful where fears are longstanding or linked to earlier experiences.
Online and in-person sessions
I work with clients:
online worldwide, and
in person in Chichester and West Sussex
Online sessions are effective for many fears and phobias and allow you to work from a familiar, safe environment.
How many sessions might I need?
Some fears respond relatively quickly; others take more time, particularly if they’re connected to broader anxiety or trauma responses.
There is no fixed number of sessions. Progress is reviewed together, and we work in a way that feels respectful of your nervous system.
Considering working together?
If a fear or phobia is limiting your life, support is available.
You’re welcome to get in touch for an initial conversation to explore whether hypnotherapy feels like a good fit for you.