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Phobias

HYPNOTHERAPY FOR FEARS & PHOBIAS – IN READING & DIDCOT

If a fear or phobia is interrupting your life — avoiding places, situations, animals, objects, or sensations — you’re not weak, and you’re not “just overreacting.” Phobias are powerful subconscious responses… and the good news is: they can change faster than people think.

I help people across Reading, Didcot, and online overcome lifelong fears and phobias using hypnotherapy, NLP, and calm, practical mindset techniques.


Many clients experience major relief in just 1–2 sessions.


MAIL@THEEXCELPRACTICE.COM  OR CALL  07807 540142

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Do Any of These Sound Like You?

• Fear of flying, heights, spiders, dogs, needles or enclosed spaces
• Panic or loss of control when facing a trigger
• Avoiding travel, work situations, social events or certain environments
• Embarrassment or frustration that the fear “makes no sense”
• Feeling trapped by anxiety in everyday life
• Fear of being judged, trapped, or unable to escape
• Irrational fear that feels physical — even if your mind knows it’s safe

If any of these resonate, you’re not alone — and phobias are more common than most people realise.

Why Phobias Persist

A phobia is not a logical fear. It’s a learned subconscious response, often linked to:

• A past event (even one you barely remember)
• Childhood modelling (seeing someone else scared)
• A sudden shock or panic episode
• Long-term anxiety patterns
• Feeling trapped or unsafe in the past
• The mind mislabelling something harmless as dangerous

You might know you should feel safe…
but the subconscious reacts before logic has a chance.

Hypnotherapy works because it helps change that subconscious pattern quickly and gently.

How I Help

• Cognitive Hypnotherapy
• NLP
• Positive Psychology
• Calm mindset training
• Gradual desensitisation at the subconscious level
• Root-cause resolution

I don’t use scripts — every session is tailored to your specific fear and how your mind learned it.

Common Phobias I Treat

I work with all types of fears and phobias, including:

Specific Phobias

• Flying
• Heights
• Spiders
• Dogs
• Needles / medical procedures
• Vomiting / Emetophobia
• Driving anxiety
• Water / deep water
• Enclosed spaces (claustrophobia)
• Bridges and tunnels
• Birds, insects & animals
• Dentists and hospitals

Social & Situational Phobias

• Public speaking
• Exam fear
• Fear of judgement
• Social anxiety
• Fear of rejection or failure

Complex Phobias

• Claustrophobia
• Agoraphobia
• Panic-related avoidance
• Trauma-linked phobias

If your phobia isn’t listed — I can still help.

Sessions & Locations

You can work with me in whichever way feels most comfortable:

Reading: Monday–Friday, day & evening
Didcot: Tuesdays, flexible times
Online: Secure sessions via Zoom or Teams

Whether you prefer face to face or online sessions, the process and results are just as effective. I work with clients across Reading and Didcot, including nearby towns in Berkshire and Oxfordshire, both in person and online. You could be next.

Why Choose Me

Clients consistently value:

• Over 18 years’ experience resolving phobias
• A calm, supportive, non-judgemental approach
• Fast results — many phobias shift in 1–2 sessions
• No scripts — fully personalised to your mind
• A focus on practical change, not years of therapy
• Many 5-star reviews across Reading, Didcot & online

My goal is simple: to help you feel calm, confident, and in control — so your life becomes bigger, not smaller.


Testimonial“Hi Matthew u helped me in mid July for my claustrophobia I thought I’d let u know how I got on going to the USA. I got on better than usual with the help you gave me. I felt a lot calmer on both the flight and difficult situations; some of the rides (Disney Land Florida) were closed in. Thank you for all your help.”Kim – Flying Phobia and Claustrophobia, September 2010

Testimonial – David Webb 8 reviews • 0 photos – 23 Dec 2022 – I’ve had four or five sessions with Matthew to help me get over motorway driving anxiety. I’d never had hypnotherapy before but enjoyed the sessions and found Matthew easy to talk to & be comfortable around. My anxiety is a lot better than it was and I’m pretty certain Matthew has played an important part in that. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Many people will start to feel better the moment they decide to make changes in their lives – and this can be just a phone call or email away

Call 07807 540142 or  Email today and working in-person and online

Book Your Session
Ask a Question

Phobias FAQ

How many sessions will I need?


Most specific phobias improve significantly within 1–2 sessions.
Complex phobias (agoraphobia, trauma-linked fears) may take 2–4.

Can a phobia really change that quickly?


Yes — once the subconscious pattern shifts, the fear response reduces dramatically.

Do you offer online sessions?


Yes. Online sessions are highly effective for phobia work.

What if I’ve had this fear for years?


Many phobias start in childhood and persist into adulthood — but they’re still highly treatable.

Call 07807 540142 or  Email today and working in-person and online

Book Your Session
Ask a Question

For online hypnotherapy for phobias please do ask for details on how I can help you with this using on Zoom, Skype, Teams and other on-line technology