Phobias are far more common than many people realise. According to the NHS, around 10 million people in the UK live with some form of phobia — from everyday fears to intense reactions that disrupt life (NHS, 2023).
While the triggers vary — flying, spiders, driving, needles, public speaking, confined spaces — the pattern behind them is usually the same. A phobia is an automatic response learned long ago, often from a single powerful experience or a series of smaller ones that built up over time.
When that trigger appears again, the brain reacts instantly. Heart racing. Breath shallow. Muscles tense. It feels out of our control — and that’s because it happens in the part of the mind designed to protect us: the subconscious.
The important truth is this: you are always in control. The subconscious isn’t broken; it’s just running an old programme that once served a purpose. Through hypnotherapy, we can teach the mind a new response.
Why Hypnotherapy Works for Phobias
Hypnotherapy helps you reach the level of the mind where these automatic reactions live. In that calm, focused state, it becomes easier to re-programme your responses, replacing fear with calm and confidence.
I’ve worked with clients who once avoided flying altogether, now boarding planes with ease. Others who used to freeze at the sight of spiders can now calmly remove one with a tissue. I’ve also helped people regain confidence driving after accidents or long breaks.
And it doesn’t stop there — hypnotherapy can help with:
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Fear of heights
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Claustrophobia
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Dental or medical phobias
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Public speaking
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Water or swimming
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Needles and injections
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Bridges and tunnels
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Birds, dogs, or wasps
…and many others. Every phobia is unique, but the principle is the same: when we change the subconscious response, we change how we feel and behave.
Re-training the Mind
Phobic responses move fast — sometimes in milliseconds — but hypnotherapy can slow things down. It gives you tools to respond rather than react. You’re not fighting the fear; you’re teaching your brain that the situation is safe now.
In sessions, we work with relaxation, visualisation, and suggestion to update that old fear response. Over time, your mind learns to handle the same triggers with calm confidence.
The change often feels natural — as if the problem just quietly fades away. That’s the power of working with, not against, your subconscious.
Taking the First Step
If you’re living with a phobia, you’ve already proved one thing — your imagination is strong. Hypnotherapy simply helps you use that imagination in a different way.
I offer hypnotherapy for phobias in Gillingham, Medway, and across Kent, both in person and online. Whether it’s flying, spiders, driving, or something more personal, help is available — and change is possible.
Book your free telephone consultation today to talk through how hypnotherapy could help you take back control.
