Phobia Technique with Resource

Anxieties are part of life; everyone experiences them. They can serve important functions—warning us, protecting us from harm. However, many people suffer from unjustified, severe fears that can prevent them from having a fulfilling social life.

This is why we use the Phobia Technique with Resource.
A phobia is an uncontrollable Pavlovian reflex: a stimulus automatically triggers an invariable, negative response.

Example: A person with arachnophobia sees a spider (stimulus), automatically responding with fear (response).

Standard Steps:

• Appreciate the phobic response
• Find and anchor a strong resource
• Anchor the phobic response
• Announce regression
• Dissociated regression
• Second dissociation
• Integration
• First re-association
• Second re-association
• Test and Future Pace

Detailed Description:

1. Appreciate the Phobic Reaction

Assure this part of you that created the phobic response for years that you respect what it did and see it as a valid reaction. Without it, you might not be here at all. The goal is not to remove the choice of being phobic but rather to bring it up to date so you have other possible responses more in line with your adult resources.

2. Find and Anchor a Strong Resource

“Recall a time you felt good, safe, and secure—when you acted as a clear-thinking adult, drawing on your abilities and competencies.” The coach anchors this resource at its peak.

3. Announce Regression

“In a moment, I’ll have you travel back in time. As you do so, you can squeeze my hand more tightly when you need a reminder of your adult competence and resources. This is your link to the present.”

4. Anchor the Phobic Reaction

“Do you know which feelings come with your phobia?” The coach anchors the phobic response.

5. Dissociated Regression

“Please close your eyes. Remember, you can press my hand if you need more strength. In a moment, I’ll touch your phobia anchor to help you recall the phobic feelings. Do not fully experience them—merely recall them enough to see yourself in that situation. Freeze the image. Nod when you can clearly see yourself at that earlier age.”

6. Second Dissociation

“Keep that picture, like a snapshot, in front of you and slowly float up, as if going above your head, until you see yourself sitting here talking with me.”

7. Integration

“From this position, sense your adult strength, security, and look into your past. Now with this new understanding, revisit that experience. Learn whatever you need to learn, knowing you always have a choice.”

8. First Re-Association

“Now, slowly come down from the third position back into your body here and feel how you’re sitting here with a new sense of strength.”

9. Second Re-Association

“Mentally step back in time to the younger you and bring them your new resources. Assure your younger self they never have to experience that old situation again. Give your younger self these resources so they can fully integrate them.”

10. Test and Future Pace

The coach triggers the phobia anchor and observes the reaction. “Now imagine a future situation similar to what used to trigger your phobia. Step into it mentally. Notice what happens.”