Specific phobias: types, causes, help and treatment with hypnotherapy in Berlin & online

Hypnotherapy and Hypnobalancing™ in Berlin

Hypnobalancing™ for specific phobias

Apprehension or fear of certain situations, activities, animals or objects is not uncommon. Many people react fearfully when they spot a snake or spider or have clammy hands when the plane takes off.

Fear is a normal reaction to situations that may threaten our safety. However, some people have an exaggerated reaction to objects or situations, and their fear takes limiting forms, even panic attacks. The fear reaction is out of proportion to the actual risk. Sometimes the thought of the frightening object or a brief glance at it is enough to trigger a severe reaction. This may indicate a specific phobia.

What are specific phobias, what are their causes, and what helps? How can which specific fears be resolved with hypnotherapy and Hypnobalancing™?

Overview

Specific phobia
Characteristics of specific phobias
Anxiety triggers in the case of specific fears
Social pressure
Categories
Comorbidity
Some examples of specific phobias
Help
Your therapist
What does hypnotherapy cost?
Therapy duration
Appointment booking
You are not in Berlin or prefer an alternative to sessions in my practice?
Preparing for your first session
The first session
Self-hypnosis
Just ask me personally

Specific phobia

Feeling uncomfortable about certain situations, activities, animals or objects is probably something everyone knows. Fear is a normal reaction to situations that can endanger our safety. However, some people react excessively to objects or situations, their fear increases to a pathological form up to a panic attack. The fear reaction is out of proportion to the actual danger. Sometimes the thought of the fear trigger or a brief glance at it is enough to trigger a violent reaction. This may indicate a specific phobia.

Fears referred to as specific fears, specific phobias, or isolated phobias are among the most common anxiety disorders. They can occur at any age.

Characteristics of specific phobias

Nothing is believed as firmly as what we know least.

Michel de Montaigne

People with specific phobias are often aware that their fears are exaggerated or incomprehensible to others, but they have no control over this emotional state. Nevertheless, they pay a great deal of attention to the early identification of potential dangers. They develop an exaggerated focus (hyper-attention, over-focus, selective attention) on the stimuli they consider dangerous. This way, they think they can take fear-avoiding actions in time.

The excessive focus of attention leads to an unnecessarily high level of vegetative arousal, in which even the slightest abnormality triggers an alarm reaction. Even the idea or expectation of certain stimuli, and not just at the sight of them, can trigger severe fear reactions. In such a hypersensitive state, reactions are very frequent.

Specific phobias can be distinguished from other anxiety disorders by the clear situation and object reference. In the absence of these stimuli, there are no phobic fears, no panic attacks, and no general increased anxiety, except for the specific expectation fears. The fear is directed toward a very specific object, such as an animal, an object, a very specific situation, or a place. Affected persons can name and limit very precisely what they are afraid of.

Anxiety triggers in the case of specific fears

Almost anything can become an anxiety trigger. The list of fears is long. There are several fears with their own names – ranging from acrophobia (fear of heights), aviophobia (fear of flying), xenophobia (fear of everything foreign), and claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces) to vaccinophobia (fear of vaccinations). Animal phobias (zoophobia), such as fear of snakes and spiders (arachnophobia), are very common.

Many of these fears, such as fear of animals or confined spaces, have an evolutionary background. They relate to situations or objects that were definitely associated with danger in the history of mankind.

Social pressure

Many affected people fear that their anxiety will become visible, which results in additional pressure. The stress level is heightened by this and fears are intensified. A vicious circle begins that spirals upwards.

Many patients try to take precautions to appear as inconspicuous and normal as possible. They monitor themselves, their behavior, and the environment as closely as possible to avoid any contact with the anxiety trigger and, if that is not possible, at least to keep the anxiety hidden as much as possible.

Comorbidity

A simple phobia is highly comorbid with other disorders; many of my clients with simple phobia reported at least one-lifetime comorbid disorder. The other anxiety disorders and major depression are most frequent. Also, specific phobia is frequently diagnosed as a comorbid disorder in other anxiety disorders.

Help

In psychotherapy, a variety of combinations of Flexible-Cooperative Hypnotherapy with Hypnobalancing and immediately applicable self-help techniques can be used. What exactly is implemented is decided according to the topic, personality, individual situation, and objectives. Even though many years of experience are very helpful here, it is always an individual collaboration each time.

Some examples of specific phobias

Examples of specific phobias:

Achluophobia
Fear of the dark
Aichmophobia
The exaggerated fear of sharp objects
Ailurophobia
Astraphobia
Exaggerated fear of lightning
Aviophobia
Exaggerated fear of flying
Bacillophobia
Exaggerated fear of bacteria and tiny pathogens
Blaptophobia
The exaggerated fear of hurting others with sharp objects
Brontophobia
The exaggerated fear of thunder
Ceraunophobia
The exaggerated fear of thunderstorms
Dentophobia
Fear of dentists
Divophobia
The exaggerated fear of divers
Dromosiderophobia
The exaggerated fear of railroads
Dysmorphophobia
Exaggerated fear or conviction of being physically deformed
Ecophobia
The exaggerated fear of environmental toxins
Emetophobia
The exaggerated fear of vomiting
Entomophobia
Exaggerated fear of insects
Equinophobia
Exaggerated fear of horses
Erythrophobia
Exaggerated fear of blushing
Gephyrophobia
Exaggerated fear of bridges
Gynophobia
Exaggerated fear of women
Gymnophobia
Exaggerated fear of nudity
Herpetophobia
The exaggerated fear of crawling animals such as reptiles
Hydrophobia
Exaggerated fear of water
Carcinophobia
Exaggerated fear of cancer
Claustrophobia
The exaggerated fear of confined spaces
Kynophobia
Exaggerated fear of dogs
Melissophobia
Exaggerated fear of bees
Mysophobia
The exaggerated fear of contagion through contact
Nosophobia
Exaggerated fear of disease
Nyctophobia
Exaggerated fear of the night
Ophidiophobia
Exaggerated fear of snakes
Phobophobia
Exaggerated fear of fear
Pyrophobia
Exaggerated fear of fire
Stage Fright, Fear of Public Speaking, Glossophobia
Thanatophobia
Exaggerated fear of death
Trypanphobia
Exaggerated fear of syringes
Xenophobia
Exaggerated fear of strangers
Zoophobia
The exaggerated fear of animals such as spiders, snakes, and dogs.

Meet Your Therapist

Specialized Care for Anxiety, Fear, and Trauma

With over 20 years of experience, I have focused my practice on helping individuals overcome fears, anxiety disorders, and trauma. Each week, I dedicate approximately 20 hours to empowering clients to break free from their limitations and achieve a higher quality of life.

A Trust-Based, Personalized Approach

Therapy is a personal journey. To build trust and provide transparency, I offer insights into my professional background and therapeutic philosophy in my profile. This openness sets the stage for a collaborative relationship, ensuring you feel supported and understood.

Flexible Language Options

To meet your unique needs, sessions are available in German and English. This flexibility ensures effective communication and comfort for all clients.

What does hypnotherapy cost?

Here are some organizational details. Please read them before the appointment reservation. People often ask, "How much does hypnotherapy cost?" What is meant by this are the presumed total costs, which result from the fee and the duration of the psychotherapy with hypnotherapy.

Fee for psychotherapy

Hourly Rates

The fees for a 60-minute psychotherapy session during regular business hours (Monday to Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) are as follows:

A. Online or telephone sessions: €189
B. In-person sessions at my office: €229
C. Flexible scheduling (short-term appointment changes up to 24 hours in advance for A or B: Additional €45 per session.
Psychotherapy services are VAT-exempt according to § 4 No. 14 a) UStG.

Terms and Conditions

Scheduling

General appointments are available Monday to Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sessions outside these hours, on weekends, or public holidays, incur a 35% surcharge.
The minimum session duration is 60 minutes, with additional time billed in 30-minute increments.

Rescheduling Policy

Sessions lasting up to 120 minutes may be rescheduled once, with at least 72 hours’ notice.
Longer sessions or sessions exceeding 120 minutes in a week require at least 14 days’ notice for rescheduling.
Missed or late cancellations are charged in full. Rescheduled sessions must be used within 12 months.

Alternatives for Missed Appointments

If you cannot attend in person, you can switch to an online video or telephone session at the scheduled time.

Payment Terms

Payment must be fully received via bank transfer 7 days before the appointment.
Cash payments on the day of the session may be allowed on a case-by-case basis; please inquire in advance.

Package Offers

Package deals are not available for psychotherapy services.

Travel Expenses

Travel, accommodation, and per diem expenses are charged separately.
For travel within Berlin, a minimum hourly rate applies.
Travel outside Berlin is billed based on time and effort, subject to individual agreement.

Personalized and Non-Transferable Services

All bookings are exclusively for one-on-one sessions and are non-transferable.

Right of Withdrawal

The provisions of the Distance Selling Act (Fernabsatzgesetz) apply to services booked by telephone, letter, email, or online form.

You may cancel a booking within 14 days of purchase without providing a reason.
If the service begins within the withdrawal period, the registration is considered a request to initiate service early.

Cost Coverage by Health Insurance Companies and Other Insurers

National health insurance companies typically do not cover psychotherapy fees. However, policies vary, so you must contact your insurance provider to clarify their specific guidelines and coverage options.

What You Need to Know

Invoice Classification:
You will receive an invoice from me, classified according to ICD-10 standards, to assist with any reimbursement claims.
Prior Approval:
Please discuss your therapy plans with your insurer in advance to avoid unexpected issues.
Application Support:
If additional documentation or applications are required by your insurer, we can address this together during our sessions.

For more information or assistance, feel free to reach out to me directly.

Therapy Duration and Expectations

Initial Session

The first therapy session lasts 90 minutes. This extended duration allows us to establish a foundation, understand your unique concerns, and set goals for your therapy journey.

Follow-Up Sessions

Subsequent sessions are typically 60 minutes long. The number of sessions required varies significantly based on individual personalities and specific circumstances.

Typical Session Range

For anxiety disorders, clients often attend 3 to 8 sessions.
By the second session, many clients gain clarity about their commitment and therapy trajectory.

Personalized Guidance

After the initial sessions, I will provide an estimate of the number of sessions you may need based on your progress and my professional experience. This collaborative approach ensures that therapy is tailored to your specific needs and goals.

Appointment booking

Please read the important information before making an appointment with me, including the contraindications for psychotherapy with hypnotherapy. I have answered frequently asked questions for you. For the success of your therapy, this information is of crucial importance. If this attracts you, then you can find out about booking your appointment here. The better you are informed, the faster we can focus on you and your wishes.

To make an appointment, you can preferably contact me by e-mail (mail@noack-hypnose.de) or by using the contact form (privacy policy) as well as by phone 01577 704 53 56 or 030 - 864 213 69. You will then receive a confirmation of your reservation by e-mail. In this reply, you will find the details for the first session. This usually happens within 24 hours. If you do not receive a reply, it could be because an email has ended up in the spam filter. In such a case, please call me.

There are only a few practice hours available, and they want to be used well. The fee for individual session hours is therefore always to be paid in full by bank transfer, with payment received at least 7 days before the session.

Why at least 7 days in advance? I would like to do it differently, but this is the best practice. Appointments that have not been confirmed with payment received seven days in advance are noticeably more likely to be canceled. And the repeated callbacks take up a lot of time. Because of this, I'm currently faced with the decision of whether and how to either significantly adjust fees to absorb this or to consistently organize in a way that is fair to all parties. Because of this, I am also offering options in terms of shifting appointments with the fees.

There is a maximum of 20 hours a week available for psychotherapy, and any canceled appointment means patients are unable to benefit from psychotherapy help. I understand that it would be more convenient for you otherwise, but this solution is the fairest for all involved.

You can use real-time bank transfer (costs 25 Ct. at Sparkasse Berlin, for example) for time-sensitive appointments, and the transfer takes a few minutes, or we can make an appointment with appropriate advance preparation. If this is not an option for you, please let me know immediately so that I can assign your appointment. Otherwise, I appreciate your understanding and look forward to intensive cooperation.

You are not in Berlin or prefer an alternative instead of coming to me?

You are not in Berlin or do not want or cannot come to the practice for other reasons? Then it is worth reading the following information about the options:

a. Travel to Berlin

For clients traveling to Berlin, there is the possibility, if booked in advance, to hold 2 sessions on the same day. It should be discussed in advance by telephone whether this is a recommendable option, as it requires appropriate prerequisites. Any sources of additional pressure should be avoided in the interest of the therapeutic success.

Here you will find further information when considering to travel to me in Berlin.

b. Online sessions

At times a personal meeting is not possible. In such cases, a telephone session or a session with video support via the Internet is an alternative or supplement. I have been using this setting for many years, and many clients have achieved excellent results with it. These experiences make it easy to achieve very intensive sessions in this way as well. You are more flexible and can also use my support very promptly. There are currently reduced fees for such sessions.

You are also on the safe side regarding the coronavirus. By the way, this is also an option if you should be unexpectedly unable to attend a session personally.

Just ask me personally.

Let's talk. Please read the privacy policy. If you are interested, you can contact me for questions and appointments via this contact form or by e-mail (mail@berlin-hypnosis.com). Make sure I understand what you are asking for.

You can find answers to frequently asked questions, such as fees, on the home page. There are also lots of articles and details about me (profile) to help you get an idea of who I am. This will also make it easier for you to decide if I am the right therapist for you and your problem.

Message

Remarks:

In the address bar of your browser, the URL should begin with "https://www.berlin-hypnosis.com/...". This indicates a secure connection (SSL). Whether you enter your real name is up to you.

Preparation for the first session

With the confirmation of your appointment, you will receive recommendations on how to prepare for your first session with me. With your appointment confirmation, you will receive recommendations on how to prepare for your first session with me. You will also get an overview of what to consider regarding the Coronavirus during in-office appointments and how to prepare best for online sessions.

The first session: Step by step

The optimal prerequisites are set right at the beginning. In the first meeting, we create the basis for intensive cooperation. Step by step:

1. Preparation

The first session is generally 90 minutes so that there is enough time for an in-depth preliminary discussion, in which we can clarify questions. Then we begin with a detailed dialogue, with the anamnesis, in order to adapt the therapeutic plan individually to your personal needs. For this purpose, we define your goals and motives and discuss the steps.

2. First intervention

As soon as you are ready for it, we get to work. You set the pace. In the second part of the session, we figure out the easiest way to get you into a comfortable, relaxed hypnotic state. You will experience an introductory trance. This enables access to your unconscious and permits initial suggestions. How far we proceed with this in the first session will be determined by your reactions. Finally, I gently lead you out of the trance.

3. Evaluation, options, and outlook

Following the first trance, I will respond to your questions, and we will discuss how to proceed with your hypnotherapy. In most cases, you will receive recommendations you can apply to complement and enhance the work we do together, even beyond the sessions. It is crucial that you not only feel better in the session, but also have an improvement in your everyday life. The more effectively we work together, the sooner I make myself superfluous as your therapist. That's it!

Self-hypnosis

When appropriate, I will teach you self-hypnosis to complement the hypnosis sessions. Self-hypnosis is a tool to control unconscious processes and thus mental states by yourself.

After you enjoyed positive trance experiences with my support, you can learn self-hypnosis very quickly. This helps you to progress self-determined. It accelerates the process, deepens, and consolidates what has been achieved in the therapy sessions. Your autonomy is thus fostered. A good therapist makes himself superfluous as soon as possible. Self-hypnosis is an excellent method of self-help that can be used beyond the actual issue.

Important Information Before Contacting Me

Read This First

Before reaching out, please take the time to review the detailed information on the following topics:

Fees and Booking Procedures
Contraindications for Hypnotherapy
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

About This Page

This page is designed to provide essential information for individuals interested in psychotherapy through hypnotherapy. However, it is not intended to replace professional psychotherapy, medical consultations, examinations, or diagnoses by a licensed medical practitioner.

My Role and Expertise

I am a hypnotherapist licensed to practice psychotherapy under the HPG (Heilpraktikergesetz). My work focuses on helping people manage anxiety and anxiety disorders. It is important to note the following distinctions:

I am not a medical doctor.
I do not provide medical diagnoses, prescribe medications, or make promises of healing.
Hypnotherapy is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric care where such intervention is necessary.

Contact Me

If you have any questions about psychotherapy with hypnotherapy, feel free to reach out. I am happy to provide more information and guide you on how hypnotherapy can support your journey to improved well-being.