OLIP Therapy · Fareham, Hampshire
Fears & Phobias Therapy
Whatever the fear, however long you've had it, freedom is possible.
Hypnotherapy, CBT, EMDR & counselling in Fareham, Hampshire, and online
Phobia therapy to give you back the places fear took
A fear or phobia quietly shrinks your world, until ordinary things feel impossible. It does not have to stay that way. In person in Fareham or online across the UK.
Fareham, Hampshire, plus online therapy UK wide
Free · Confidential · No obligation · Nothing happens at anyone's pace but yours
First, the difference
What is the difference between a fear and a phobia?
A fear
A fear is a strong dislike you can still keep in check. You may hate flying or dread spiders, but you can manage the feeling and carry on. It is uncomfortable, and it does not take over.
A phobia
A phobia is far more intense. The fear becomes overwhelming and physical, and it is usually tied to one thing or situation, or to something broader like social settings or enclosed spaces. It can bring on real panic.
Whichever yours is, both respond well to the right support, and neither is anything to feel embarrassed about.
Fears we help with
Common phobias we help people overcome
If yours is not here, please do not worry. We work with a very wide range, so just ask.
- Fear of flying
- Social phobia
- Agoraphobia
- Claustrophobia
- Emetophobia, fear of being sick
- Fear of needles and injections
- Dental phobia
- Fear of heights
- Spiders and insects
- Dogs and other animals
- Fear of driving
- Public speaking
- Blood and medical procedures
- Shy bladder syndrome
- Fear of water
- Lifts and escalators
When it makes no sense
Why some phobias seem to have no logic at all
If your phobia feels irrational, you are not alone in that, and it does not mean anything is wrong with you. Fear is your body trying to protect you, and it is not fussy about whether the threat is a real one.
One explanation many therapists find useful is that a phobia can become a stand-in for something else. A difficult early experience may leave the feelings behind long after the detail has faded, and years later something can reawaken that old fear with nothing obvious attached to it. The mind, trying to make sense of a feeling with no story, fastens it onto something in front of you.
That is one way of understanding it rather than the only one, and phobias also form through a single frightening event, through learning it from a parent, or for no clear reason at all. Your therapist will work with what actually fits you.
Fear of flying is far more common than people think
YouGov research found around one in six people in Britain has a fear of flying, and more than four in ten of them avoid planes altogether. Almost none have been in a crash. For many, flying becomes a stand-in for a deeper fear of not being in control.
An honest answer
Which therapy works best for a phobia?
Specific phobias are among the most treatable things anyone brings to therapy. CBT with gradual, agreed exposure has the strongest evidence behind it and is what NICE recommends, and many people need only a short course of work.
EMDR is the better fit where a phobia clearly traces back to a frightening experience, since it works on the memory rather than the behaviour.
Hypnotherapy is widely used for phobias and many people find it helps a great deal, particularly with the physical panic response and the dread beforehand. The research behind it is thinner than for CBT, and we would rather say so. It is often combined with CBT for exactly that reason.
Counselling gives you room to understand where the fear came from, which matters more to some people than any technique.
Your options
Four proven ways we help you overcome fear
There is no one size fits all with phobias, so we match the approach to you and often blend more than one.
CBT
Structured work to recognise and reframe fearful thinking, with gradual exposure at a pace you agree, plus practical tools for the moment itself.
About CBTHypnotherapy
Works with the automatic response through deep relaxation, easing the physical panic and the dread that builds beforehand.
About hypnotherapyEMDR
Particularly useful where the fear traces back to something that happened, helping the brain process the memory so it loses its charge.
About EMDRCounselling
Space to understand your triggers and where they came from, build emotional regulation, and grow confidence without pressure.
About counsellingThe thing people worry about
Nobody will make you face it
The most common reason people put this off is a fear that they will be marched straight at the thing they are frightened of. That is not how it works here.
Any exposure is gradual, agreed in advance and entirely at your pace. Often the early sessions involve nothing of the sort, because there is groundwork to do first. You will always know what is coming, and you can stop at any point.
You will not be asked to hold a spider in session one, or in any session, unless you decide you want to.
No surprises
What happens when you get in touch
- 1
You send a message or call
A line or two is plenty. You do not need to name the phobia if you would rather not put it in writing.
- 2
A free 15 minute call
A relaxed, confidential chat with an experienced therapist. No cost, no obligation, and nothing you have to face on the call.
- 3
We match you with the right therapist
We suggest the approach and therapist we think fits, in person in Fareham or online, and you decide whether to start.
Counselling from £72 a session. CBT, hypnotherapy and EMDR from £90. See all fees
Start living the life you want
Phobias are one of the areas where people are most often surprised by how much can change, and how quickly. The world you have been steering around can start to open up again.
Your questions answered
Fears and phobias questions, answered
Can a phobia really be overcome?
Specific phobias are among the most treatable difficulties anyone brings to therapy, and long-standing ones respond too. Many people need only a short course of work. We would not promise an outcome, but this is one area where the odds are genuinely good.
What is the best therapy for a phobia?
CBT with gradual exposure has the strongest evidence and is what NICE recommends. EMDR fits better where the fear traces back to a frightening experience. Hypnotherapy helps many people with the physical panic and the dread beforehand, though the research behind it is thinner. Often a blend works best, and we will talk it through on the free call.
Will I have to face my fear straight away?
No. Any exposure is gradual, agreed with you in advance and always at your pace. Often the early sessions involve none at all, because there is groundwork to do first. You will always know what is coming, and you can stop at any point.
Why does my phobia seem so irrational?
Because fear does not work logically. It is a protective response, and it is not fussy about whether the threat is real. Some phobias also become a stand-in for a feeling that started somewhere else entirely, which is why the thing you fear can seem unconnected to anything. Understanding that is often a relief in itself.
How many sessions will I need?
It varies with the phobia and how long you have had it. Specific phobias such as a fear of needles or spiders often respond in a small number of sessions. Broader ones such as agoraphobia or social phobia usually take longer. You will get an honest idea at your free call.
Do you help with fear of flying?
Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons people contact us. We also offer Virtual Reality hypnotherapy for flying, which lets you rehearse the experience safely before you are anywhere near an airport.
I have a flight booked soon. Can you help in time?
Often yes. Focused work on a specific upcoming event is very doable, and people do come to us a few weeks before a flight, a wedding or a medical procedure. Get in touch and tell us the date, and we will be honest about what is realistic in the time you have.
Do you help children with phobias?
Yes. Several of our therapists work with children and teenagers, and phobias in young people often respond very well. If you are a parent, the free call is a good place to talk through what would suit your child.
Can I have sessions online?
Yes. You can be seen in person at our Fareham practice or online from anywhere in the UK. Both work well, and many people find online a comfortable place to start, particularly where the phobia makes travelling difficult.
Is what I say confidential?
Yes. Your sessions are private and treated with the strictest confidence, and nothing is shared with family, employers or your GP without your agreement.
Whenever you are ready, we are here
Start with a free 15 minute call. A relaxed, confidential conversation with an experienced therapist about what has been happening and what might help, with no cost and no obligation.