Treatment for Phobias and Fears
Irrational fears or phobias are often learnt in a single instance and may be described as “one-trial learning.” This means a person has had a fearful experience that they now re-experience whenever they are in this situation or think about it. Typical symptoms often include greatly increased anxiety, perspiration, increased metabolism, racing thoughts, and other feelings. The key to changing the historical response is to change the “emotional charge” that triggers the old behaviour, creating newfound freedom for the individual.
Since the late 1990s, I have used this approach to work with and reduce a wide range of different fears. Common fears include spiders, snakes, heights, bridges, insects, confined spaces, birds, needles, and public speaking, amongst many others too numerous to mention. Many clients I see have previously attempted numerous other approaches. My personal experience is that “analysing the problem” rarely leads to changing the old response, because the feeling often remains unaffected by such analysis. Fortunately, the Provocative Change Works approach has proved highly effective in addressing these kinds of problems, and I now teach these skills to other therapists worldwide.
In 2006, I was a guest on the BBC for 26 consecutive weeks, working with a wide range of fears and anxieties live on air. Most of these were improved within an hour using a combination of elements from NLP, Provocative Therapy and Hypnosis. This multi-layered combination works better even than stand-alone NLP or Hypnosis. Every week, a BBC listener was selected to be a client in the Leeds or Bradford studio. We would first discuss the problem live on the air and how it has affected life to date. After working with my Provocative Change Works set of skills, we would both return to the studio and provide feedback on the results. We would seek to test the results of the work. During this six-month period, we would make frequent visits to the Leeds Tropical House, which housed all manner of spiders, snakes and flying insects, so the client was able to notice how they no longer had the fear. One of the most memorable client sessions was with Mary, who had a fear of birds for fifty years. After the session, this is what she said –
“It was good to see you again last Wednesday, and to be able to demonstrate how your NLP has helped me to deal with my “Bird flapping wings” fear. Following the NLP session, my fear of being near birds has gone.
“I am now able to walk outdoors, and I notice less and less as time is passing, any presence of birds. What can I say, I am a changed person with a higher level of confidence in dealing with not just birds, but other matters also. I’ve carried this burden throughout my adult life, and you’ve eradicated it with just one short session of NLP. This has been a life changing moment for me, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. No more free, free, because now I am FREE of this fear.”
More client feedback
“I just wanted to say thanks. I have had 2 sessions… Whilst I don’t think i will ever really like wasps (does anybody?), I am perfectly happy if one comes near me. It really has made a massive difference to me. I have been able to enjoy being out in the garden for the first time I can remember. Even the little things, such as leaving windows open in the house or driving with a window open, no longer scare me. Thanks again, I never imagined that these sessions would make the huge difference they have.
Kind regards”
Gabby