Imagine stepping into a lift without that familiar surge of dread. What if those moments of panic, sweaty palms, and racing thoughts could gradually fade into calm acceptance?

Fear of lifts affects millions of people, often forcing them to climb countless flights of stairs or avoid certain buildings altogether. This phobia can feel isolating and exhausting, particularly in our increasingly vertical world.

Hypnotherapy offers a gentle, evidence-based approach to addressing lift phobia by working with your subconscious mind. Rather than simply telling you to “get over it”, hypnotherapy helps retrain your brain’s automatic fear response, creating space for new, calmer associations with lifts.

What Is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that uses guided relaxation to achieve a focused state of awareness. Contrary to stage show portrayals, you remain fully in control throughout the process, able to hear everything and reject any suggestions that don’t feel right.

Think of hypnosis as similar to becoming absorbed in a good book or film. Your conscious, analytical mind becomes quieter whilst your subconscious becomes more receptive to positive suggestions and new perspectives.

During this relaxed state, a qualified hypnotherapist can help you explore the root causes of your lift fear. They might guide you through visualisations of successful lift journeys or help you develop new coping strategies that feel natural and automatic.

The process feels remarkably ordinary to most people. You might notice your breathing slow down, your shoulders drop, and your mind become clearer and more focused. Some describe it as feeling like that drowsy moment just before falling asleep, but with heightened awareness.

How Effective Is Hypnotherapy for Fear of Lifts?

Fear of lifts typically develops when your brain’s alarm system becomes hypersensitive to perceived threats in enclosed, moving spaces. Your amygdala triggers fight-or-flight responses even when you’re logically aware the lift is safe.

This creates a cascade of physical sensations: rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, muscle tension, and sometimes dizziness or nausea. Your nervous system becomes conditioned to react this way, often before you’re even consciously aware of feeling afraid.

Hypnotherapy works by accessing the subconscious patterns that drive these automatic responses. Research published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis has shown significant improvements in specific phobias through hypnotic intervention, with many participants showing reduced anxiety scores and increased behavioural flexibility.

A Stanford University study found that people with high hypnotic susceptibility showed measurable changes in brain activity patterns after hypnotherapy sessions. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for rational thinking, showed increased activity whilst the emotional centres became less reactive.

Sarah, a marketing manager, found herself gradually able to use lifts in familiar buildings after several sessions. She began to notice her breathing staying steadier and her thoughts remaining clearer, though she still preferred shorter journeys initially.

Many people with lift phobia also experience claustrophobia in other situations. The relaxation and visualisation techniques learned during hypnotherapy often help with these related fears too.

Individual results vary considerably, and hypnotherapy works best as part of a broader approach that might include gradual exposure and practical coping strategies.

What Happens in a Session for Fear of Lifts?

Your first session typically begins with a detailed conversation about your specific lift fears. When did they start? What exactly triggers the strongest reactions? Do you fear the doors closing, the movement, or something else entirely?

Your hypnotherapist might ask about your goals too. Perhaps you’d like to visit a friend’s flat on the tenth floor, or maybe you’re hoping to feel more confident in your office building’s lift.

The hypnosis portion usually starts with progressive relaxation. You’ll be guided to notice tension leaving different parts of your body, often beginning with your feet and moving upwards. Your breathing naturally deepens and slows.

Once you’re relaxed, the therapist might use various techniques. They could guide you through imagined lift journeys, starting with very brief, comfortable trips. Or they might help you mentally rehearse feeling calm and confident in lift situations.

Some sessions focus on reframing your relationship with lifts entirely. Instead of seeing them as trap-like boxes, you might be guided to experience them as helpful transport, like a gentle, vertical taxi.

Throughout this process, you remain aware and in control. Many people are surprised by how ordinary it feels, more like guided daydreaming than anything mystical or overwhelming.

Common Misconceptions About Hypnotherapy

Many people worry they’ll lose control during hypnosis, perhaps revealing embarrassing secrets or being made to do ridiculous things. These fears typically stem from stage hypnosis shows, which bear little resemblance to therapeutic hypnosis.

In reality, you can’t be hypnotised against your will or made to do anything that conflicts with your values. You’ll hear every word the therapist says and can emerge from hypnosis whenever you choose.

Another common myth suggests that only certain “weak-minded” people can be hypnotised. Actually, the ability to enter hypnosis often correlates with intelligence, creativity, and the capacity for focused attention. It’s a skill that most people can develop with practice.

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy also recognises hypnotherapy as an evidence-based treatment when delivered by qualified practitioners.

Rather than masking symptoms, good hypnotherapy aims to address underlying patterns and provide you with lasting tools for managing anxiety.

How Many Sessions Are Needed for Fear of Lifts?

Most hypnotherapists suggest between three and eight sessions for specific phobias like lift fear, though this varies enormously between individuals. Some people notice shifts in their anxiety levels after just one or two sessions, whilst others benefit from a longer, more gradual approach.

The severity and duration of your phobia often influences the timeline. A fear that developed recently might resolve more quickly than one you’ve carried for decades. Your general stress levels and other life circumstances matter too.

Many therapists recommend weekly sessions initially, then gradually spacing them out as you begin to feel more confident. This allows time for your new responses to strengthen and for you to practice using lifts in real-world situations.

Some people find they benefit from occasional “top-up” sessions, particularly if they’re facing new challenges like using lifts in unfamiliar buildings or during stressful periods when old anxieties might resurface.

Is Hypnotherapy Right for Me?

If your fear of lifts is impacting your daily life, work opportunities, or social connections, hypnotherapy might offer valuable support. It tends to work well for people who are open to exploring their patterns and willing to practice new responses.

You don’t need to believe strongly in hypnosis for it to be effective, but a willingness to engage with the process helps. Some scepticism is perfectly normal and won’t prevent you from benefiting.

Consider whether you’re ready to gradually face your fear. Hypnotherapy isn’t about forcing yourself into lifts immediately, but it does involve moving towards rather than away from the situations that currently trigger anxiety. People who also struggle with panic attacks often find the relaxation techniques particularly helpful.

If you’re dealing with severe mental health conditions, it’s worth discussing hypnotherapy with your GP or mental health professional first to ensure it fits well with your overall treatment plan.

Explore more about hypnotherapy for Anxiety & Phobias.

Is Hypnotherapy as Effective Online?

This session can be conducted online from anywhere in the world—research published in the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare has demonstrated that online hypnotherapy is equally effective as in-person sessions for anxiety, with the added benefits of convenience and accessibility from your own comfortable environment. 

Many clients find that being in their own space actually helps them relax more deeply. 

If after that initial session you feel hypnotherapy isn’t right for you, there’s no obligation to continue. 

Book your introductory session and discover whether this approach resonates with you.