Fear of Heights (Acrophobia)

How it shows up

Fear of heights, sometimes called acrophobia, can range from a mild flutter of nerves at the edge of a balcony to a full physical panic response, dizziness, a racing heart, frozen legs, when faced with an elevator glass wall, a hiking overlook, or even a step ladder. Like other phobias, it’s rarely proportional to actual danger; it’s the feeling of being unsafe that takes over.

For many people, this fear limits travel, home projects, hiking, or even certain jobs, and it can be frustrating because logically you know you’re safe, but the fear response doesn’t listen to logic.

How hypnotherapy helps

A fear of heights is often, at its core, about a loss of control, the same sense of “what if something goes wrong and I can’t stop it” that shows up in other control-related phobias. Hypnotherapy works with the subconscious mind to address that underlying need for control rather than trying to talk you out of the fear from the outside.

Pattie uses hypnosis alongside CBT and NLP techniques to help retrain your automatic response to height, so your body and mind stop treating a hiking trail or a balcony as a threat.

What a session looks like

Every new client starts with a free 20-minute consultation, in person at Pattie’s Scottsdale office or by phone or Zoom, to talk through how and when the fear shows up for you. From there, sessions run $150 each.

Common questions

Can hypnotherapy help even if I’ve had this fear since childhood? Yes. Long-standing fears respond well to hypnotherapy because it addresses the root pattern, not just the current symptom.

Will I need to actually be at a height during the session? No. Sessions are calm and seated, working with the mental and emotional response rather than exposing you to the trigger directly.

How many sessions will I need? It varies by person and by how the fear developed, but many clients notice a real shift within a few sessions.