Fears & Phobias
There is much debate as to the difference between an uncontrollable fear and a phobia. A person with a phobia
has an identifiable focal point that represents a repression that is linked to some other indirect experience.
For example a person who has never been bitten or stung by a spider, snake, or wasp, but who still reacts badly
towards them may be termed phobic.
However with uncontrollable fear the reaction is as a direct consequence of an original experience that has a
link or resemblance to the current situation that the person finds themselves confronted with. Therefore a
person who has been bitten or stung before, who then over reacts to the spider, snake or wasp is better
described as experiencing uncontrollable fear. However there is a further complication in that sometimes both
may become combined, as an example of this a spider phobic repeatedly exposed to the source of their fear may
eventually react with a panic attack.
Remember, that no matter how strange and embarrassing your fear may seem to you, I will likely have
encountered similar in the past!
Performance Anxiety
(exams, interviews, test, stage fright, presentations)
You’ve studied long and hard, you’ve practiced over and over again, you have the skills and knowledge to pass...BUT!
But you just “fall apart” when it comes to the event. This is an extremely common occurrence. People report; nervousness,
anxiety, an inability to focus, a blanking of the mind, and even physical symptoms under such conditions. The event
may be a driving test, school/college exam or an important interview for the job that you’ve always wanted. You owe
it to yourself to take control and be able to demonstrate your capabilities.
In previous research conducted in the USA people were asked about their greatest fears. The fear of performing in public
came above the fear of death. You may be a budding star auditioning for a college place, a “performer” who wants to be
more comfortable in front of their audience, a sales person making a pitch, a manager passing on information to their
#team, or even the best man giving a speech at your best friends wedding. Fear clouds the mind and rules the day,
preventing you from showing yourself at your best and stopping you from enjoying the challenge.
Not only can we help you manage the fear, but with many years of experience of presenting in a sales and marketing
environment, often to 100’s of people, Andrew Hill can coach you to become a competent “performer”.
A short course of therapy may be all you need to succeed. Call me to start on your road to success.
Anger Management
We can all get angry on occasions; indeed anger may be a positive motivator that encourages us to make long overdue
changes, however to some anger becomes the preferred way of dealing with must things. In this situation the anger is
irrational and most often does not resolve a situation but creates its own unwanted situations and outcomes. Continuing
anger can be devastating to self, family, friends and career. Therapy explores the reasons and motivators for the anger
and seeks to help bring about the resolution of underlying issues. Often boosting self-confidence and learning new ways
of communicating can also make a significant difference.
Call me now to talk through your concerns.
Confidence & Self-Esteem
“Can I handle this?” That’s the question that we ask ourselves internally when we find ourselves in an unfamiliar,
stressful, or rarely “practiced” situation. If the answer that comes back is “no” we will react accordingly often
feeling nervous or anxious. When this occurs often, we may be tempted to say that we have a “lack of confidence”.
Having a lack of confidence can often be linked to a low opinion of ourselves, our capabilities and worth. Sometimes
it is localised to specific triggers, often it is wide spread throughout our lives. It can lead to the development of
self-abusive coping mechanisms, fears, phobias, and long-term depression.
Gaining confidence is often about changing ones beliefs about ourselves and the world around us. Beliefs that we have
constructed throughout our lives, influenced by others around us, particularly figures of authority such as parents,
teachers and employers. Not all belief are useful, some may restrict or ability to “handle this”.
This is an area of specific interest and experience for me. Call me now to discuss how we can work together to move
your life on.