Phobias

Definition:

Is there one thing that absolutely terrifies you?

Ask yourself, for 1 million pounds could you face this fear?

If the answer is no, it’s highly likely that you have a phobia.

A phobia is an overwhelming fear that causes you to behave irrationally.

If you have a phobia you will experience exaggerated distress in response to the perceived threat. You will try to avoid the source of your phobia at all costs. This fear will be specific and it will disrupt your life.

Some phobias develop out of natural aversions. For instance, a dislike of spiders can intensify over time until the point that it becomes a phobia. Some phobias occur after a traumatising incident. Others run in families.

However, there is a silver lining. Hypnotherapy is highly successful at treating phobias.

Facts:

According to the latest research on UK adults:

  • Approximately 10 million people are estimated to have some form of phobia.

  • Phobias can develop at any age, but they are often first seen between the ages of 15 and 20. 

  • Whilst men and women are equally likely to develop phobias, men are more likely to seek treatment.

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Phobias:

Animal Phobias:

  • Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders

  • Ophidiophobia: Fear of snakes

  • Cynophobia: Fear of dogs

  • Elurophobia: Fear of cats

  • Ornithophobia: Fear of birds

Environment Phobias:

  • Acrophobia: Fear of heights

  • Aquaphobia: Fear of water

  • Astraphobia: Fear of thunder and lightning

  • Nyctophobia: Fear of the dark

  • Claustrophobia: Fear of enclosed spaces

Health Phobias:

  • Trypanophobia: Fear of injections

  • Hemophobia: Fear of blood

  • Dentophobia: Fear of the dentist 

  • Iatrophobia: Fear of doctors

  • Emetophobia: Fear of vomiting

  • Mysophobia: Fear of germs

Other Phobias:

  • Thanatophobia: Fear of death

  • Atychiphobia: Fear of failure

  • Monophobia: Fear of being alone

  • Trypophobia: Fear of holes

  • Catoptrophobia: Fear of mirrors

  • Coulrophobia: Fear of clowns

  • Papyrophobia: Fear of paper

  • Somniphobia: Fear of sleep

  • Aerophobia: Fear of flying

  • Agoraphobia: Fear of open or crowded spaces

  • Glossophobia: Fear of public speaking

  • Arachibutyrophobia: Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth

  • Nomophobia: Fear of being without your mobile phone

  • Ablutophobia: Fear of bathing

  • Globophobia: Fear of balloons

  • Omphalophobia: Fear of belly buttons

Science:

There is a network of brain structures, known as the limbic system that is central to phobia formation.

Imagine hearing a buzzing sound and then getting stung by a wasp – your brain’s amygdala would play a key role in helping you learn to associate the sound of buzzing with the risk of being stung.

If the fear is intense enough, the amygdala will communicate with other parts of the limbic system such as the hypothalamus, to help initiate the fight-or-flight response.

It is the activation of the fight-or-flight response that can make a phobic reaction so overpowering.

How hypnotherapy can help:

During a hypnotherapy session we will gently explore your history of the phobia, discussing your earliest memory of the phobia as well as your most traumatic experience.

You will then be guided into deep relaxation where you will revisit positive memories of confidence and control. On a subconscious level, we will recode your relationship to the phobic stimulus, restructuring any negative thought patterns and neutralising your emotional responses.

Once the intensity of your fear has been reduced we will then work on encouraging new neural pathways to form.

Through ego-strengthening, positive suggestions, and future mapping you will develop a neutral feeling towards the old phobic stimulus.

We will repeat this work until your new response is cemented.

Throughout the process we will explore a variety of coping-mechanisms and self-regulation techniques including anchoring, colour breathing and imaginative rehearsals of future scenarios to empower you to live a life free from fear.

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Transformation in 3 Simple Steps

  1. Discovery Call

20 minutes - Free

2. Initial Consultation

60 minutes - £25

3. Hypnotherapy Session

60 minutes - £85

Testimonials

Amanda

“Working with Gemma has been a truly transformative experience. When I first started therapy, I was overwhelmed by stress and struggling to cope. Through your compassionate and insightful approach, you helped me understand the roots of my stress and gave me practical tools to manage it effectively. What stood out most was the safe, nonjudgmental space that you created—one where I felt heard, supported, and empowered to make real changes. Thank you for helping me to regain a sense of clarity, calm, and confidence in facing daily challenges. I’m incredibly grateful for your support and would highly recommend Gemma to anyone navigating stress or seeking mental wellness.”

Genevieve

“Managing and running my own business results in me having a lot of stress and coping with a huge amount of other people’s stresses too. I contacted Gemma about hypnotherapy and whether she thought that may help. I was really impressed with her personal and professional manner throughout our first meeting, instantly grasping what industry I worked in and showing empathy for the areas of life that I found most stressful. Gemma’s thorough initial information gathering was evident throughout our four sessions, demonstrating her attentive listening and accurate understanding of my situation, thoughts, and feelings. Even now in times of stress I still mentally use the green shiny pebble in my pocket creating space and allowing me to breath and realign my thoughts. I would highly recommend Gemma for any hypnotherapy sessions that you may be thinking about.”

Simran

“I had the privilege of participating in hypnotherapy sessions with Gemma to help me manage stress and the experience truly exceeded my expectations. From the first session, she created a warm, professional, and safe environment that immediately put me at ease. Gemma listened with empathy and tailored each session to address the root causes of my stress. She exhibited outstanding expertise, perceptiveness, and attentiveness throughout the process. Through gentle and effective techniques, she helped me access a deeper sense of calm and control that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. I noticed a significant change in my emotional state and my ability to handle daily pressures more easily and resiliently. What impressed me most was her genuine care and commitment. She clearly wanted the best for me and took the time to ensure each session was meaningful and impactful. I wholeheartedly recommend Gemma to anyone struggling with stress or looking for a more balanced, peaceful approach to life. This experience has been a turning point, and I’m genuinely grateful. Thank you, Gemma!!”

Jo

“I had a Hypnotherapy session with Gemma to quit smoking. Gemma was professional throughout, discussing her ethical boundaries with me and quickly established a good rapport. She explained how the session would work creating a comfortable environment. I was unsure what to expect, as I haven't done anything like this before, but I have been smoke and vape free since the session and haven't felt the need to do so. Gemma did a great job and I'd highly recommend her.”

Holly

“Gemma was brilliant, from the moment I stepped into the room she made me feel calm and at ease. Any questions I had were answered clearly and she listened carefully and compassionately to me throughout our work together. I can safely say that if you put your all into therapy, you get a whole lot more out of it than you will ever have expected. Thank you Gemma.”

Ryan

“It was a pleasurable and relaxing experience having hypnotherapy. Gemma is very attentive, professional and engaging.”