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Question:  I saw a psychologist when I was in my early 20's about a phobia I had.  He helped me get over it gradually with hypnotherapy.  Now, several years later it is starting to re-emerge.  I don't understand why this is happening - I thought I was cured.  Maybe I should try a different kind of therapy? 

Answer:  Maybe you should. Phobias are an extreme over-reaction to specific and often seemingly innocuous stimuli. These anxiety ridden over-actions are out of proportion to any potential danger to the phobic person and so, often make no logical sense to anyone. If the phobic stimulus cannot be avoided, a full blown panic attack may ensue. Phobic reactions have a neurotic basis and as such, the main reasons for them are largely unconscious or hidden. Therefore they are not amenable to conscious control. Phobias have an origin, a symbolic meaning and a purpose. All of which must first be recognised, understood and worked through by the sufferer, before any lasting improvement can be expected. Shortcuts like hypnotherapy and working cognitively, are simply not reliable in these cases.

Answer provided by David White