Background
Brian was a 40-year-old man who had a moderate fear of flying since his early twenties. He had flown on a plane a few times before, but he always felt anxious, tense, and uncomfortable during the flight. He avoided flying as much as possible and preferred to travel by car or train. He felt embarrassed and frustrated by his fear, as it prevented him from enjoying holidays with his family or attending work events.
He decided to seek help from a hypnotherapist after his boss offered him a promotion that required frequent travel by plane. He wanted to accept the offer and advance his career, but he was also worried about how he would cope with flying.
Hypnotherapy Sessions
Brian had four sessions of hypnotherapy over a period of one month. The hypnotherapist used a combination of techniques to help Brian change his negative associations and emotions about flying and replace them with positive ones.
Session 1
The first session involved building rapport and trust between Brian and the hypnotherapist, as well as gathering information about Brian’s history, personality, and goals. The hypnotherapist also explained how hypnosis works and what to expect from the sessions.
Session 2
The second session focused on relaxation and induction. The hypnotherapist guided Brian into a deep state of trance using breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation. The hypnotherapist then used positive suggestions and imagery to help Brian feel calm, confident, and safe.
Session 3
The third session involved desensitisation and exposure. The hypnotherapist used a technique called the Swish Pattern to help Brian change his mental images and feelings about flying. The Swish Pattern is a technique that involves replacing an unwanted image or emotion with a desired one in a rapid and repeated manner. The hypnotherapist asked Brian to imagine himself in a situation that triggered his fear of flying, such as packing his suitcase, driving to the airport, or boarding the plane. The hypnotherapist then asked Brian to quickly switch to an image of himself feeling relaxed and happy in a place that he enjoyed, such as walking his dogs in the countryside or watching a comedy show. The hypnotherapist repeated this process several times until Brian felt more comfortable with the idea of flying.
Session 4
The fourth session involved reinforcement and preparation. The hypnotherapist reviewed all the techniques and strategies that Brian had learned during the previous sessions and helped him plan for his upcoming flight. The hypnotherapist also used visualisation and mental rehearsal to help Brian imagine himself successfully completing the flight and enjoying his destination.
Outcome
Brian was able to fly to his work meeting without any major problems. He reported feeling slightly nervous but excited before the flight, but he was able to use his self-hypnosis skills and Swish Pattern technique to calm himself down. He said that he enjoyed the view from the window and even chatted with his seatmate during the flight. He said that he felt proud of himself for overcoming his fear and grateful for the opportunity to travel.
He also said that he felt more confident and relaxed after the trip, and that he was looking forward to flying again in the future.
Next steps
If you are ready to overcome your fear of flying and enjoy the freedom and benefits of air travel, don’t wait any longer. Hypnotherapy can help you change your mindset and emotions about flying in a safe and effective way. Request a free consultation with a qualified hypnotherapist today and discover how hypnosis can make you love flying.
