Phobia Therapy in Glasgow
Phobias and Fear of Flying
Knowing it’s safe doesn’t stop the fear.
You can know that flying is safe and still feel terrified when the aircraft door closes. You can know a needle takes a second and still cancel the appointment. A phobia doesn’t listen to reason, because it doesn’t live in the thinking part of your brain.
That doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. It means your mind learned to protect you from something, and it’s still doing it.
This page is part of my guide to anxiety therapy in Glasgow. If you're looking for help, start there to see how I work, what a session is like and how to book a free consultation.
What does a phobia look like?
A phobia is more than being nervous about something. It’s an intense fear that’s out of proportion to the real danger, and it starts to shape what you do. You avoid things, plan around them, or dread them for weeks beforehand.
People come to see me with all sorts of fears, and no fear is too unusual to talk about. If it’s getting in the way of your life, it’s worth a conversation.
The ones I see most often are:
- Fear of flying
- Fear of needles and blood tests
- Fear of the dentist
- Feeling trapped or claustrophobic
- Fear of spiders and other animals
- A fear that doesn’t have a name, but still gets in the way
A phobia is something your mind learned.
Somewhere along the way it linked something with danger, and now it reacts automatically, faster than you can think. Anything that was learned can be changed.
Fear of flying
Fear of flying is one of the most common reasons people come to see me. Often it isn’t the plane itself. It’s the feeling of being trapped, or of not being in control, with no way out until you land.
Some people stop flying altogether. Others still fly but spend weeks dreading it, and the holiday is half over before they relax. Either way, it takes something from you.
Together we work on the response itself, so your body stops treating the flight as danger.
If you have a flight coming up, get in touch early so we have time to work on it before you travel.
You don’t have to fight it on your own.
I use hypnotherapy alongside NLP and, where it helps, EMDR. If your phobia started with a frightening experience, EMDR can sometimes help with the memory itself.
In hypnosis you’re awake, aware and in control the whole time. We work with the automatic response rather than arguing with it. That might mean changing the feeling your mind attaches to the thing you fear, or rehearsing it calmly in your imagination, so that when you face it for real your body doesn’t react in the old way.
Most people I work with come for between two and four sessions. I see people in person at Orchard Park in Carmyle, Glasgow, and online. You can read more in my article on hypnotherapy for phobias.
BOOK A FREE CONSULTATIONYour questions about phobias
Open whichever one is on your mind.
Does hypnotherapy work for phobias?
Phobias are one of the things hypnotherapy is best known for helping with. Everyone is different, which is why we start with a free consultation to talk about your fear and whether I’m the right person to help.
Tips to Manage Anxiety and StressHow many sessions will I need?
Most people I work with come for between two and four sessions. We’ll talk about what’s likely for you at the free consultation.
Does Hypnotherapy Work For AnxietyWill I have to face the thing I’m scared of?
Not in the session. Most of the work happens in the calm of the therapy room, and you stay in control throughout.
Can you help me before a flight?
Yes. If you have a flight booked, get in touch as early as you can so we have time to work on it before you travel.
Can I Cure Anxiety MyselfWill I be in control during hypnosis?
Yes. You’re awake, aware and in control throughout, and you can open your eyes whenever you want.
Can I have sessions online?
Yes. Sessions are available in person at Orchard Park in Carmyle, Glasgow, or online, wherever you are.
You don’t have to plan your life around it.
You don’t need to tell me everything to get started. Book a free consultation, tell me as much or as little as you want, and we’ll take it from there.
If you are in crisis or feel unsafe right now, please don’t wait for a consultation. Call NHS 24 on 111, or Samaritans free on 116 123, any time of day or night. In an emergency, call 999.