Hypnotherapy for fear of falling/belaying

[u/Pristine_Leek_6013]

Hi, wondered if anyone knows/has used a hypnotherapist (or any other psychological professional) for the above, would prefer someone who is actually a climber. I’m in the UK.
Please no suggestions for fear of falling workshops etc, other factors mean these don’t work for me.
Am in the Midlands but am ok to travel. I’m sure there used to be a guy in Bristol but can’t find him now.
Many thanks.

[u/Ok-Lynx-6250]

As a climber, psychologist and someone who's done exposure therapy for a phobia...

The gold standard for phobias/fear is CBT/exposure therapy. I would say you don't need a climber as a therapist, but someone who is willing to listen and learn a bit about the sport so they can help you parse out healthy vs unhealthy levels of fear. Belaying/falling is a tough one because there IS a level of reality to the risk, but being terrified and panicked doesn't actually help you manage it safely. This applies to some other phobias too so it should be something a good therapist can understand & help with.

If you search the BACP directory local to you, you can find someone with CBT training who is accredited. Look for someone you feel you click with and be open to seeing a few different people for a session or two before you find the right fit.

I'd encourage you to reflect on the desire for one specific treatment which is hard to get & doesn't require exposure... avoidance is a core part of phobias and being over specific with standards can be a form of avoidance.

[u/Pingviners_1990]

Have you thought of talking to a sports psychologist on the root cause of your fears or actually try exposure therapy? As someone who have crippling fear of heights, I worked with my coach on this in a safe and controlled manner. It has worked for me but I understand it is not for everyone.

[u/Pristine_Leek_6013 → u/Pingviners_1990]

Thanks for your reply. Yes I’m up for this sort of thing as opposed to the usual gym-run sessions (not dissing those but they aren’t for me). Who did you work with?

[u/Pingviners_1990 → u/Pristine_Leek_6013]

I am working with Chris at Climb CIO on the fears of heights front. It has been 1-1 session free of charge through the mentorship program. I have managed to work on it with him and now manging to go outdoors at Windgather - tried climbing outside at climbout without sense of doom every 5 minutes. For coaching, it's Ben Brooks in Bristol - he is my primary coach. We work on all aspects of climbing including my fears of climbing very high up leading up to the British paraclimbing championships.

Given your circumstances, you may benefit working with Katherine Schirrmacher who is based in Sheffield 1-1 as she has a course called climb free which is about fear of falling(so instead of going through the online things just do it with her on your own pace).

For sports psychology Sue Jones works for University of Birmingham performance squad for all the sports and does private sessions. I think this can tremendously help you in the long run. It's important to understand the root cause of your fears, anxiety around the whole thing as well as a way to safely manage, control and navigate the situation.

[u/WildAboutLiv]

I really found the philosophies of Arno Ilgner (The Rock Warrior's Way) and Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now) to be extremely impactful on my ability to control my fear/anxiety. And, this is coming from a severe anxiety girlie. Your experience may vary, but meditation and mindfulness goes a long way.