Hypnotherapy to help with phobias

RE: Hypnotherapy to help with phobias

Hello Lady Lude,

Yes, you're looking in the right place. Hypnotherapy would definitely help - as would the services of an NLP practitioner (who may well use hypnosis as well - hypnosis and NLP are closely related).

How long will it last? Well, a good practitioner will not only deal with your issues but also teach you ways of giving yourself a 'top-up' if required. You may choose to return for more sessions later as well - more likely the resources you already have will have been released so you won't need to.

Credentials - there are all sorts of excellent qualifications out there. It's also important that you go to someone that you trust. I would recommend the Society of NLP because that's my background - other awards are available ...

Fees - tend to vary. I'd suggest having a search around the web and, of course, the other responses to this thread.

You'll be able to deal with this and feel good - and if you want any more from me, send a PM or ask away on the board 🙂

Freedom and love,
Ian

RE: Hypnotherapy to help with phobias

Hypnotherapy and NLP are excellent for phobias.
If you want to broaden your horizons slightly you can look at other "mind therapies" such as EFT, FREEWAY-CER, TAT, TFT etc. These are all also excellent at clearing phobias.

When I went to learn EFT (having not done any "mind therapies" before), I went along with a phobia of spiders. During our course, we had to practice on each other in pairs, one being the practitioner and the other being the client. When it was my turn to be the client I chose to work on my spider phobia. I was amazed at how instantaneously the feeling of fear disappeared thinking back to a situation where I had been scared by a spider, whereas at the beginning of the session that very situation really made be feel the fear. Of course I wasn't totally convinced at first and it wasn't until a couple of weeks later that my better half (bless her, she has no fear of spiders) picked up a rather large spider on our allotment and offered it to me to test myself. Of course I was cautious as I wasn't sure what I'd feel, but sure, enough the spider crawled onto my hand and all over my hand and all I felt was a tickly feeling from it. I was as cool asa cucumber (one that's been in the fridge of course :D).

All I can say is, it works, and I've not had a problem with spiders ever since.

Love and Reiki Hugs

RE: Hypnotherapy to help with phobias

I was freed from a life long phobia of needles in one 20 minute session of NLP. I'm living proof it works:D
One session was all it took - no need for top ups.
I won't pretend I *enjoy* injections now, but it's a bit like cleaning the oven - it needs to be done sometimes, and it's a s*** job, but you just roll up your sleeves and before you know the job is done.

Amethyst x

RE: Hypnotherapy to help with phobias

Thank you for your replies and help.
What is NLP? Sorry if I'm being a bit dum here but is it like hypnosis?
Kx

RE: Hypnotherapy to help with phobias

NLP = Neuro Linguistic Programming.

It's a technique that can be used with other therapies and it is a very broad subject matter in itself. It can be used, for example, to re-anchor negative memories with good emotional feelings in order to reduce and/or remove the feelings that are associated with those memories.

Love and Reiki Hugs

Hi there,
I was just browsing this for phobias and came across this discussion on hypnotherapy - I was wondering whether you think it would work on phagophobia, the fear of swallowing and/or choking?

This has suddenly come on about three or four days ago for me and it's really upsetting me. I have to drink in sips or I panic that I'll choke, and I over-chew really tiny amounts of food. I know in my mind that it's illogical and there is nothing to suggest that there is anything wrong with me, but I still can't get over it. I've had a moderate case of emetophobia (fear of vomiting) since I was 14 - I'm 17 now - but I was just beginning to get better with that when this happened. I'm absolutely terrified of doctors, because everytime I see one, they tell me that there is something really wrong. I couldn't swallow pills even before this, I just crunch them up and take the power with a gulp of water, but as I can't gulp water anymore, and I'm on antibiotics, it's posing a real problem for me.

Anyway, I just wondered whether you thought of anything that might help me, I'm really scared that I'm going to die of malnutrition or something 🙁
Thanks for reading this.

Yes in my experience as a hypnotherapist I have had a lot of success with phobia treatments, so I would definitely recommend it. Something to note though, make sure you have your therapy around the time you are about to have an injection. If yo have your therapy, then you need to re-enforce it by dong the thing you had therapy for. I would say do not leave it any longer than 3 weeks maximum - preferably sooner.

So which is better - NLP or hypnotherapy for phobias? I am booking up this month so want to go to the right one.

Katharine x

I would say find yourself a Hypnotherapist who incorporates NLP techniques in the treatment. I'm not just saying that. The two techniques combined offer a very powerful treatment.

Love and Reiki Hugs

I'd agree that NLP techniques and hypnotherapy combined are the best mix. I work with women with needle phobias and hospital phobias during pregnancy as I specialise in pregnancy and birth.

Most hypnotherapists I know are trained in both these methods anyway. If you are looking find someone who is experienced in treating phobias.

Let us know how you get on 🙂

Sophie

I am going for hypnotherapy tonight so I'll let you know how I get on.

Katharine x

Well I went for it, £60 later I felt a little conned. ;-( We chatted about my experiences with needles and then I was 'hypnotised'. This involves lying on a reclining chair while he speaks telling me to relax and let all my muscles relax and listen to the sounds, then don't listen to the sounds (impossible). Then he tells me to think of something good and surround myself with a colour and then to tell myself my behaviour is good now but inappropriate to have a bad reaction to the needles. I don't know how relaxed I was supposed to be but I could have done that myself.

Anyway I went for a consultation with the nurse and told her about my fear and she said she'd do the injections there and then. She kept me talking and asking me questions about my wedding and I was absolutely fine. I had an injection in each arm, I didn't look or anything. I did have to lie down for a bit after but it was a good experience and not bad. I did the visualisation (for me it was horse riding and thinking of my cats playing and my wedding) and whether it was that or the brilliant nurse I do not know. For me, I think it was the nurse who kept my mind off it, I don't think deep down I had any benefit at all from the hypnotherapy but that's just my opinion.

Katharine x

You may have had some benefit from the Hypnotherapy, but it's difficult to tell, especially based on the description of the treatment you gave. Partially, you may have felt a little tense about it with it being your first treatment and partially it may have been the techniques that the hypnotherapist used.

I'm surprised that a 'professional' hypnotherapist would ask you not to listen to the sounds. That's like me saying now 'don't think of a banana' and you will now have an image (albeit maybe briefly) of a banana. You don't have a choice in the matter.

Also, telling someone it's inappropriate to have a bad reaction to needles is not good practice IMHO. If he was using NLP techniques he would have found a good feeling that you associate with something and anchor that good feeling to the thought of needles.

Don't be disheartened by it, just maybe next time, try another hypnotherapist. 😉

Love and Reiki Hugs

I'm sorry that you don't think it helped. I agree with energlz in that the techniques sound a little odd. From what you have said it doesn't sound as if your therapist used any NLP techniques.

But sometimes, and this is a comment that I've heard from several therapists is that the changes are so subconscious and subtle that sometimes the client does not even make the link between the results and the therapist.

For example one said to me; "I'm feeling so much better these last few weeks - it must the weather."

What matters is that you were fine with your injections. Makes no odds whether it was the nurse or the therapist.

Perhaps next time try another therapist, there is a thread on here somewhere on how to find a bone fide therapist.

Sophiex

Hi Katherine,

Absolutely try hypnosis also if you want to do some self help to overcome this irrational fear another good therapy is EFT you can get the manual and info actually on curing needle phobia here

Persoanlly I would look for a hypnotist that also does stage hypnosis (like me) we are, in the main, the most astute and flexible at putting clients into trance as we deal with a wider range of individuals than the average hypnotist, we also have the highest success rates.

Credientials are only bits of paper and trust me I have lots of them, most of the governing bodies are self regulating anyway. My advice is to phone a fw and interview them just like you would interview any tradesman before they undertake work. Use your gut instinct tp pick the right person for you as this will make the process of hypnosis easier for you.

Jason

Persoanlly I would look for a hypnotist that also does stage hypnosis. We are, in the main, the most astute and flexible at putting clients into trance as we deal with a wider range of individuals than the average hypnotist, we also have the highest success rates.

I assume you are a fan of Jonathan Royle then. 😉
However, I think you'll find it hard to substantiate your claims that hypnotists who practice stage hypnotism have the highest success rate. 😎

Love and Reiki Hugs

I assume you are a fan of Jonathan Royle then. 😉

Errr not really..... I reserve comment there....

However, I think you'll find it hard to substantiate your claims that hypnotists who practice stage hypnotism have the highest success rate. 😎

Absolutely true I think that the whole field of complimentary therapy struggles with this including myself and I have the resources of research students and 2 universities to call on!!! My comments on the efficacy of stage hypnotists over "hypno the rapists" is solely based on personal experience over the last 20 years and knowing quite a few of either of the both of them....lol :p

My comments on the efficacy of stage hypnotists over "hypno the rapists" is solely based on personal experience

I'll assume that is an error in typing that you made there? otherwise you may be offending quite a lot of practitioners.

Love and Reiki Hugs

No it was not a typo and not meant to intentionally offend (and this is not an apology)

I have spent many years in the field of Psychotherapy and I lecture on a number of theraputic applications one of my ice breakers and opening lines is would you want to me treated by someone who has this on their door or under their name Psycho the rapist or Hypno the rapist.... for me this is key to the ethics and history that I teach to students, unfortunately the history of psychotherapy and hypnotherapy has as many angels as it does demons. This term acts to remind me (and hopefully all my students) that the line between therapy and abuse is thin and conduct and perception are paramount always...

Even Freud, the grandfather of psychotherapy was not immune to temptation himself...

Well I think it is labelling all therapists with a bad name myself. That's MHO.

If you've ever met a person who has been wrongly accused of being a rapist you'd probably be a little more careful about going around using the term so loosely. Being labelled with such a thing can ruin peoples lives, families and the trust that have built up with other people, even if they are found to be innocent later on.

Love and Reiki Hugs

Wow - what a lot of discussion - The 1st poster wanted to know whether hypnotherapy could get rid of her fear. Yes in one word. Your phobia was created by a response to a situation, and your subconscious mind decided to respond to similar situations in the same way. A good hypnotist - a well trained hypnotist - an ethical hypnotist who is concerned more about you than what goes in his/her wallet, whether they are stage trained or not will change the subconscious patterning to a more acceptable behaviour pattern. More acceptable to you. I hope this helps

Thanks for your opinion.

As a qualified "Psycho the rapist" myself I have worked with a wide variety of people. One area I spent 4 years working in was psychosexual dysfunction and I worked with both victims and perpetrators of sex related crimes, who in themselves are also victims in one way or another.

Maybe I am labelling myself and I am secretly a complete deviant.... :p

Wow - what a lot of discussion - The 1st poster wanted to know whether hypnotherapy could get rid of her fear. Yes in one word. Your phobia was created by a response to a situation, and your subconscious mind decided to respond to similar situations in the same way. A good hypnotist - a well trained hypnotist - an ethical hypnotist who is concerned more about you than what goes in his/her wallet, whether they are stage trained or not will change the subconscious patterning to a more acceptable behaviour pattern. More acceptable to you. Go to

I hope this helps

I don't want to be too critical but, isn't chinosis a little bit too similar to EFT or does it not claim to be original. I'm not doubting it's efficacy, by the way, just being inquisitive. 🙂

Ed.

I like using hypnotherapy at the end of a session for relaxation or during a session for a more positive "oomph". However, I have found that EFT with NLP leads to a more complete success. Our clinic phobia specialist has neither hypnotherapy nor NLP qualifications and only uses EFT and chakra balancing, with great success.

Whilst one-session comlete results do occur, they are not the norm, no matter what anyone tells you. Beware the hypnotherapist promising one-session success for everyone. They are simply inexperienced.

Another thing to bear in mind is that some phobias are a symptom of a completely different problem, in which case your practitioner needs a number of sessions so that they can do the detective work and heal each cause of this phobia till they are all healed.

Hi everyone. New to this but needed some help so I thought I'd come to you.
I have cleft lip and palate and have had numourous operations and injections, when I was 7 I had a blood test that snapped in my arm,it was the one time my mum couldn't come with me and its now I major problem for me. I have had a massive phobia of injections ever since and don't know where else to turn.
It drives me mad because people just say to me "it doesn't hurt, I don't know what your'e worried about!" and "if thats all your'e worried about when u try for a baby then wait till you give birth!", to me that really upsets me because it's not about the pain, I have a very high pain threshold and have been so so many nasty operations and even laser treatment to remove a tattoo which is ridiculosly painful. I have a few tattoos and piercings and that doesn't bother me because it's not an injection. I've been through conselling when I had my last operation a couple of years ago to get me through the injection part and it didn't help. I made myself go for a flu jab this year because I get cross with myself for getting so frightened but I was petrified and just burst into tears. Me and my husband are planning on trying for a baby in the summer but I know I will have to have blood tests so I need to sort this phobia out. Will hypnotherpy help and can anyone recommend one in Hampshire?
Becci

If you had come to me as a client I would not advise hypnotherapy in the form of relaxation /suggestion as I believe from what you have said this would give you at best temporary relief. In my opinion you need to find a good hypno-analyst or analytical hypnotherapist to release the trapped emotion that is creating the fear, as you have already discovered you became emotional when having an injection. You mind has linked this experience to a previously emotional upsetting experience causing you to feel a powerless and scared as you did then. So you need to root out the cause not play with symptom. You may require a course of sessions but once you release the trapped emotion the problem will go for good and you will control your life.

Hello Becci
You could have a look at the National Phobia Society website (not sure of the name, but you could google it).
They can outline some of the treatment that they recommend and put you in touch with a local therapist. Some of these work as volunteers, so you could get treatment at a reduced rate, depending on your income.
Best of luck, I understand how awful phobias can be.
Sue

Whenever you see a hypnotherapist always ensure they are qualified, the belong to a recognised association and now with self regulation becoming more relevant they should have a United Confederation of of hypnotherapy organisations registration number.
Yes ask to speak to the therapist first to see how you feel about them, are you comfortable etc. If not go somewhere else.
You may get benefit from one session but it will probably be temporary and may require reinforcing or you may have to find the cause.
Stage hypnotists are not clinical therapists it is a different application of hypnosis. As to inane word splitting weel enough said it as bad as dis - ease, use words to state what is meant not to corrupt words to support a weak position.

I don't want to be too critical but, isn't chinosis a little bit too similar to EFT or does it not claim to be original. I'm not doubting it's efficacy, by the way, just being inquisitive. 🙂

Ed.

Hi Ed.

I'm not a Chinosis (chi-nosis) 'expert', so here's what Wikipedia has to say:

In 2001 Jonathan Chase and Jane Bregazzi developed Chinosis, a simplified form of meridian therapy based loosely on both TFT Thought Field Techniques and EFT Emotional Freedom Techniques. Chinosis uses both meridian or Chi energy manipulation and hypnotic symbolism to apparently remove or change unwanted or unproductive emotional response patterns of behaviour.

So, it's original, in that it's a system which combines established techniques. It's not EFT, TFT, Acupressure or Acupuncture but rather a 'new' system that definitely gets results. Hope that helps.

John K.