Phobias can feel huge. They often don’t make logical sense, and yet the body reacts as though the threat is real and present. Sweaty palms. Racing heart. A need to escape. Whether it’s a fear of flying, spiders, dogs, or something more hidden like public speaking or failure, the experience is deeply real to the person living it.
Let’s take the example of a fear of dogs. Maybe someone was bitten as a child, or maybe they witnessed something frightening involving a dog. Even if they consciously know that most dogs are friendly, their nervous system has learned to associate dogs with danger. And when something feels dangerous, the subconscious jumps into protective mode. That’s not weakness. That’s the brain trying to help.
In my approach to hypnotherapy, we work together. You are never being told what to feel or how to think. Instead, we explore the story your subconscious has taken on and whether it still serves you. We might gently visit the origin of the fear, not to relive trauma, but to understand and update it. If your younger self needed to feel safe and wasn’t able to, we create space for that safety now.
I use techniques that are imaginative, respectful, and often deeply calming. It’s about giving your subconscious mind new options. We might ask together, is this fear still needed? Is there something in you that can recognise safety now? Bit by bit, we make space for new feelings, ones that reflect the person you are today rather than the fear from the past.
It’s not about flipping a switch. It’s about peeling back layers and inviting your mind and body to rewrite the story from a place of safety, strength, and self-compassion. Many clients are surprised at how freeing this can be. And over time, what once felt impossible can start to feel manageable. Even natural.
Phobias might feel like they’re running the show. But with the right support, your inner world can shift. You can come back into calm, one breath at a time.
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