Dictionary definitions...

phobia n. - an abnormal or morbid fear or aversion.
fear n. - an unpleasant emotion caused by exposure to danger, expectation of pain, etc.

How do phobias and fears develop in the first instance, and how well do such disorders respond to hypnosis as the therapeutic medium?

To help understand how hypnosis can be very effective when dealing with fears and phobias it is important to understand how fears and phobias tend to occur. When we are born we are all blank canvasses just waiting for someone to start the big picture, and as we develop we add our own inputs to form the picture further. All too often we fail to recognise how some of the inputs affect us, especially if the input was habitual over a long period of time.

The majority of fears and phobias appear to be caused by inappropriate learning, and the client is really only concerned at how they can remove the anxiety and/or any symptoms that accompany the fear or phobia. With hypnosis the majority of fears and phobias can be treated effectively, some cases may take longer than others, but the results will always be based on client expectation, which needs to be monitored and managed to obtain the best results. Whilst the techniques are proven to work and provide long-term results, it is the therapist’s responsibility to ensure that the client has realistic expectations and that suitable therapy is designed and used accordingly to achieve the required goals.