Break free from phobia

Phobias are one of the most common reasons people seek therapy. Aside from the fear itself, phobias can be severely restrictive with many finding themselves fitting life around their fear(s).

Phobias are not something you are born with but something you learn. This can be through a single event or something that builds over time, fuelled further by avoidant behaviour.

Therapy helps address fears at the subconscious feeling level, restoring the mind and body for a more appropriate response, giving back a precious sense of control and freedom for living.

Therapy can help individuals overcome a wide range of specific fears and phobias, including Fear of Public Speaking (Glossophobia), Flying (Aerophobia), Driving (Amaxophobia / Vehophobia), Vomiting (Emetophobia), Enclosed Spaces (Claustrophobia), Constriction (Merinthophobia), Being Trapped (Agoraphobia), Birds (Ornithophobia), Heights (Acrophobia), Dogs (Cynophobia), Spiders (Arachnophobia), Medical (including Iatrophobia, Nosophobia, and Pharmacophobia) and Needles (Trypanophobia), providing effective strategies for lasting relief.

Please book a consultation to discuss your specific needs and possibilities for treatment.

  • "Tom helped me overcome my fear of heights after one session and meant I enjoyed my trip up to Sugar Loaf mountain in Brazil! Thoroughly recommend."

    Sonia

  • "Our teenage son suffered from severe cynophobia, which was having a significant impact on his life affecting his willingness to go to many places. We approached Tom to enquire if this was something he could support with, Tom arranged a call back for us to discuss the situation, following the chat we arranged two sessions. The sessions made a very significant improvement to our son and has had a very positive impact. Cannot recommend highly enough, thank you Tom."

    Shaun

  • “Tom helped me with my phobia of butterflies and moths, and has really helped me to enjoy being outside without the feeling of anxiety I used to have. Thanks, Tom!”

    Amy

  • "I saw Tom in order to control my body's responses with respect to a mild phobia. The sessions were as informative as they were effective, allowing me not only to have a more positive experience in future situations, but to understand why this is the case. Would highly recommend to others in a similar position."

    Perry

  • The root word of "phobia" is the Greek word phobos, which means "fear". The suffix "-phobia" is used to create words that describe irrational fears.

Tom Carter - Private Therapist & Coach

Integrative Person-Centered Approach

Online or In-Person (Norwich, UK)

Fully Insured & DBS Checked

GHSC Accredited (GQHP)

Frequently asked questions

  • A trance is a patterned process that becomes embedded in the mind-body system and operates, at least in part, outside of conscious awareness.

    What we are more aware of are the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that arise from the underlying trance state.

    Notably, trances are shaped by our experiences—while we retain the learning, we often forget the lesson itself. 

  • An initial consultation takes 30-minutes at a cost of £40

    Following this, a standard 60-minute session costs £85

    If at any stage in therapy, a longer 90-minute session is required, such as for EMDR Therapy, the cost for this is £120.

    For people under 16yrs of age, 45-minute sessions are offered as an option at a cost of £60.

    A 10% discount is available on the above session prices (excluding consultation) for:

    • State Pension recipients

    • Blue Light Card holders

    • NUS Card holders

  • Each therapy session is unique, oriented around the client and what they need in that session. My aim always is to provide you with the safety and support to explore your problem in a way that allows for natural and manageable change.

    In practical terms, the in-session experience can include a combination of sitting, standing, talking, reflecting, moving, focusing, imagining, body sensing / feeling, visualising, thinking, feeling, meaning-making, observing, relating, remembering, forecasting and more.

    The use of a therapeutic trance state (aka hypnosis) can also be part of the process though in most cases is not necessary for the pre-existing ‘problem’ ‘trance to be resolved.

  • This depends on many factors, primarily the nature of the problem and the outcome being sought.

    It is worth stating that when working therapeutically with subconscious problems, the old adage of ‘less haste more speed’ applies. The more someone tries to force change, the more resistance they typically encounter - and the slower the process takes overall.

    My commitment to all those I work with is the same, that we will work as quickly as possible but as slowly as necessary.

  • Hypnosis is a state of altered consciousness in which the critical, analytical part of your mind can quieten, allowing you to more easily connect with your subconscious experience.

    The term "hypnosis" comes from the Greek word hypnos, meaning "sleep," which can be misleading—being in hypnosis is not the same as being asleep.

    Although hypnosis is often experienced with closed eyes to enhance relaxation, much like resting, this does not mean the person is asleep. From an outside perspective, they may appear to be sleeping, but internally, they are in a heightened state of awareness.

  •  That’s OK, you don’t need to be. If you find yourself doubtful, skeptical or find difficulty with things such as relaxation and meditation, you can view this as a protective resistance, something we welcome and work with as part of the process.

    The truth is, some people have a natural ability for entering hypnotic states and others take a little longer to familiarise with the process. My role is to meet you wherever you are and help you achieve change in a way that works for you.

  • Therapy is a process of gaining greater awareness and self-control. Whilst entertainment hypnosis gives the impression of people losing control, this is the direct opposite of how it can be used in therapy.

  • On the basis that you attend a one-hour weekly therapy session, that leaves an extra ~110 waking hours in which you can be making progress towards your goal. And as you would expect, those people that are prepared to do the work, typically progress further and faster.

    That said, out of session work is always optional and by no means obligatory. If you feel you want to do out of session work, let me know and I will make it available to you.