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Conquer Your Fear of Flying
With ASCENT Fast Therapy

a unique flying with confidence course- now also available live online

flying anxiety

h2 HYPNOTHERAPY provides a unique fear of flying course in Tayside, Scotland and also live online using Zoom or Skype for clients everywhere. 

The ASCENT programme combines hypnotherapy, NLP & cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with technical training to deal with both the practical / technical aspects and the underlying psychological causes of a flying anxiety. The programme is easily accessible to clients with a flying anxiety located in Perth, Dundee, Angus and Fife. Clients who are unable to attend our Perthshire clinic (or who are maybe short of time before a holiday flight or business trip) can easily arrange online sessions with our expert GHR registered Senior Hypnotherapist (and former commercial pilot and CAA qualified flying instructor). Hypnotherapy can be tailored to your requirements - if you need a 'quick fix' or do not have the time for the full ASCENT programme, we can provide an intensive single session - just ask!

 

Online sessions will be structured to help with a client's particular issues and will include safe, effective hypnosis adapted for the online environment and that will incorporate helpful psychological tools and techniques to manage anxiety, avoid panic attacks and promote relaxation. All of the client's technical questions (and misconceptions) will be addressed. Do not confuse our online sessions with off-the-shelf videos or mp3s - these are live, interactive one-to-one bespoke consultations tailored to the individual client! Learn more about online therapy here ...

What is a Fear of Flying?

Aeroplane Wing

Fear of flying (aerophobia or aviophobia) is one of the most common phobias, and flying anxiety unduly affects an estimated 20-40% of people at some time. On the face of it, such anxiety is irrational as statistics prove that flying is one of the safest forms of travel. In fact, a Harvard study from 2017 shows that the odds that a plane you are travelling in will crash are only one in 1.2 million (and the odds of actually dying in a crash are one in 11 million!). Compare that to your chances of dying in a car accident which are one in 5,000). If you have a flying anxiety, take a look at these statistics from a report published by IATA in 2023:

  • Taking a five year average 2018-2022, the all accident rate of member airlines was 0.76 (1 accident every 1.4 million flights) and the major accident rate was 0.16 (1 major accident every 6.4 million flights) 

  • The industry 2022 fatality risk of 0.11 means that on average, a person would need to take a flight every day for 25,214 years to experience a 100% fatal accident

 

Now - does this information make you feel better about taking a flight? I'm guessing probably not! So why not? The simple answer is that your irrational fear is generated in your subconscious mind and reading these figures and analysing them in your conscious mind does little to alter the situation when it's your subconscious that's running the show! In order to tackle the anxiety, we need to address matters in both the conscious and subconscious - and that's why hypnotherapy is effective and why traditional courses offered by the airlines don't always fix the problem.

 

For those affected, this irrational fear severely limits their lifestyle, leisure and business opportunities as flying becomes more of an essential part of our lives. There are many aspects of flying that can cause anxiety, such as dreading an accident, claustrophobia, relinquishing control or fearing a panic attack. Even the early stages of booking a ticket can create a mild anxiety, which rises to abject terror when the plane becomes airborne. Symptoms include sweating, dry mouth, panic attacks, high heart rate, hyperventilation, nausea, blurred vision and muscle tension. 

Fear of flying can affect anybody, regardless of age, education, intelligence, gender or professional status and is not a sign of weakness or necessarily lack of accurate information about safety statistics. Luckily, help is at hand that can allow sufferers to reduce their fears to a manageable level and in some cases even enjoy flying!

ASCENT Hypnotherapy for Flying Anxiety Course

The psychology sessions are conducted by Harry Holbrook, clinical hypnotherapist (and former CAA commercially qualified flying instructor and RAF Air Training Corps instructor) based near Blairgowrie in Perthshire (close to the border with Angus).

The ASCENT programme is customised to the particular needs of the client, but a typical course comprises three sessions of hypnotherapy, CBT, NLP and technical training. During the ASCENT sessions: 

  • negative worries are examined and reframed into more realistic and positive thoughts 

  • causes of anxiety are progressively desensitised

  • future effective behaviour is rehearsed

  • psychological techniques are practised that can be used to instantly quell anxiety

  • the mind is trained to inhibit the release of stress hormones on a flight

  • the technical aspects of flying are explained, and any concerns dealt with

As mentioned, if you need an even quicker solution, we can provide a single-session intensive approach for you - just ask!

How Can I Conquer My Fear of Flying Now?

For further details about any aspect of the ASCENT course, contact h2 HYPNOTHERAPY today! Gift Vouchers are available for a partner or friend who would benefit from enjoying the freedom to travel by air. Don't forget that we provide an online service one-to-one using Zoom or Skype software for those clients unable to attend our clinic in Perthshire.  

Please note that we are no longer able to offer the flight simulator, light aircraft or accompanied commercial flight services from Dundee Airport, which were previously available as an add-on to the ASCENT course.

 

"I would just like to say a big thank you for your help …… I honestly can't remember the last time I flew feeling so calm and relaxed. Once again thank you for your life changing help"   D.B. (Kirkwall)

"The trip was good and very relaxing. My anxiety levels were very much reduced.  My wife commented on how much more at ease I seemed on the flights.  I was even able to read a few chapters of a book. All in all the most pleasant flights I have had in 20 years. Many thanks for all of your help" R.P (Aberdeen)

"Just to let you know we had an absolutely amazing trip to ......!  Thank you so much for the course you gave me as I was able to make use of some of the techniques throughout the trip.  I am very happy to say that I actually didn’t need them half as much as I thought I would, but I think the fact that I knew I had the tools there if I needed them was a great help to me!" KD (Perth) 

"I'm happy to report that I felt a huge improvement! Both flights were far more comfortable than what I've become used to in recent years so thank you! I still felt a few nerves but nothing I would label as unreasonable - it was fine. It actually felt strange without the usual worry! I never felt the need to use any of the techniques. Thanks again :) " M.B. (Inverness)

"Best flying experience I have had in years ... thank you!" SC (Ladybank, Fife)

"… it was a massive step being able to actually make the journey!! I was definitely more calm and in control which has put me at ease thinking about the next trip! Thank you…without the hypnotherapy and relaxation techniques you gave me, I may not have made it!  EM (Blairgowrie)

"We did go for a holiday to London and flew down. I felt so much better and was nowhere near as nervous as I had been. Thank you for all your help." DD (Leven, Fife)

"... just wanted to write and say thank you so much for the session we had before I left Scotland. It impacted me in ways I am still discovering. I was able to fly without medication.  ST (USA)

“Take-off and landing were much better than previously, and I have a much more positive outlook on flying and potential future flights” MK (London)

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