24/08/2025
Please see an overview of a client that came to see me for fear of flying. As a result of hypnotherapy they were able to fly to Australia to see her sister that she had not seen for 5 years. Please see below on how hypnotherapy can help overcome fear of flying.
Client Case History – Overcoming Fear of Flying through Hypnotherapy
Client Name: Sarah
Age: 48
Occupation: Marketing Executive
Presenting Issue: Severe fear of flying
________________________________________
Background:
Sarah is a 48-year-old Marketing Executive who reported an intense fear of flying, which had developed in her mid-20s after a turbulent flight from New York to London. Since then, she had avoided air travel altogether, even when it impacted her career progression and personal relationships as her sister lives in Australia. Her fear would begin days or even weeks before a scheduled flight, with symptoms including insomnia, nausea, heart palpitations, and panic attacks. She had tried anti-anxiety medication but found only temporary relief. Sarah came to hypnotherapy hoping for a long-term, internal shift in how she perceived flying.
________________________________________
Assessment and Initial Consultation:
During the initial session, Sarah described her fear as irrational but overpowering. She could not board a plane without experiencing overwhelming dread. Her goal was to be able to fly comfortably to visit her sister in Australia within the next three months. Hypnotherapy was explained to her as a way of accessing the subconscious mind to reframe past experiences and install more helpful beliefs and emotional responses. She was receptive and motivated to proceed as she hadn’t seen her sister for five years.
________________________________________
Hypnotherapy Process:
Session 1 and 2: Induction and Relaxation
The first two sessions focused on building rapport and introducing Sarah to deep relaxation through guided hypnosis. A safe mental space was established — a calming beach — which she could return to when anxious. This session also planted initial suggestions of safety and calmness associated with air travel.
Session 3: Positive Anchoring and Future Pacing
A confidence anchor (a gesture linked to calm) was installed. Visualisation exercises had her imagine boarding a plane, taking off, and landing, all while maintaining calm. Her subconscious was taught to associate flying with excitement, comfort, and control and to also focus on the end goal. A safe place was also introduced that Sarah could go to when she went on future flights – a tranquil haven.
Session 4: Reinforcement and Coping Strategies
Sarah was taught self-hypnosis and breathing techniques for use before and during flights. This session reinforced all positive beliefs and addressed residual anxiety through ego-strengthening suggestions.
________________________________________
Outcome:
After four sessions over eight weeks, Sarah successfully boarded a flight to Sydney, Australia without medication. She reported only mild nervousness beforehand, which she managed using her new tools. No panic occurred, and she described the experience as "liberating." 4 weeks later, Sarah flew back to the UK and again implemented the techniques she had been taught. She described the return flight as stress free, and she implemented breathing techniques and a safe space that we discussed that she could go to on the flight if any anxiety occurred. She now describes flying as "something I can do" rather than something to avoid. She has since travelled to Australia to visit her sister again.
________________________________________
Conclusion:
Hypnotherapy proved highly effective for Sarah in resolving deep-rooted fears by accessing the subconscious mind, reframing past trauma, and instilling positive emotional responses to flying. Her case illustrates how hypnotherapy can offer rapid, lasting relief from phobias when traditional methods have failed or fallen short.
