Fear to Freedom: Train Your Brain to Beat Emetophobia
I’m inviting a small number of families to take part in the first trial of my new Fear to Freedom Emetophobia Mind Training Programme for teens aged 12–16.
This programme has been created to help teens begin changing their fear response around vomiting, illness, nausea, and the situations they may currently avoid because of emetophobia.
The trial will run for 4 weeks, starting on 15th July.
During the trial, families will receive free access to the programme in exchange for completing feedback before and after the trial.
Families accepted onto the trial will receive:
Access to the 4-week Fear to Freedom programme
Mind-training recordings for the teen to use at home
A simple workbook/tracker to support progress
Parent guidance on how to support their teen during the programme
A parent “trial start meeting” before the programme begins
Weekly online drop-in sessions during the trial for questions, support, and guidance
A pre-trial questionnaire and post-trial feedback form
What’s included
What families will need to do
This is a self-guided trial programme with parent support. It is not emergency support, crisis support, or a replacement for medical advice, therapy, or mental health care where this is needed.
Families will be asked to complete a pre-trial questionnaire so I can check whether the programme is likely to be appropriate at this stage.
Who this is for
Because this is a trial, families will be asked to:
Complete a short pre-trial questionnaire before being accepted
Attend the parent trial start meeting if accepted
Support their teen to use the programme regularly over the 4 weeks
Attend weekly online drop-in sessions if they would like extra support or have questions
Complete feedback at the end of the trial
The programme is free for trial families, but completion of feedback is required so I can understand what works well, what needs improving, and how your teen experienced the programme.
Important note
This trial may be suitable for families where a teen aged 12–16 is struggling with fear around vomiting, nausea, illness, or being near others who may be sick.
It may be especially relevant if emetophobia is affecting areas such as:
Eating or food choices
School attendance or school anxiety
Travel
Social situations
Sleep
Reassurance-seeking
Avoiding places, people, or situations linked to sickness
Apply to be part of the trial
Trial Dates
The trial starts on 15th July and runs for 4 weeks.
Places are limited to a small number of families so that feedback can be properly reviewed.
To be considered, please complete the pre-trial questionnaire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my teen need to attend sessions?
The programme is free for families taking part in the trial.
Does my teen need to talk about vomiting or describe upsetting experiences?
No. The Fear to Freedom Trial is a self-guided programme for your teen to use at home, with parent support.
Your teen will use the programme recordings and workbook/tracker in their own time. Parents accepted onto the trial will attend a trial start meeting before the programme begins, and there will be weekly online drop-in meetings for parents who have questions or would like extra support during the trial.
Does my teen need to want to take part?
No. The programme is designed to help teens begin changing their fear response without needing to repeatedly talk through distressing details.
There may be gentle reflection around what they would like to feel more confident doing, but the focus is on building calm, confidence, and trust in their mind and body.
How much does it cost?
I can’t promise a cure, and it would not be ethical to do so.
The aim of the trial is to help teens begin training a calmer, more confident mind-body response and to test how families experience the programme. Progress may look like; reduced fear, less avoidance, more confidence, fewer reassurance loops, or feeling more able to cope.
How often will my teen need to listen to the recordings?
Yes. Your teen does not need to feel completely confident or excited, but they do need to know about the trial and be willing to try the recordings.
The programme is not designed to be forced onto a teen who strongly does not want to take part.
What if my teen feels nervous about listening?
Guidance will be provided, but as a general guide, your teen will be encouraged to listen regularly throughout the 4 weeks.
The aim is to make the recordings feel manageable and supportive, not like another pressure or demand.
Do parents need to attend the weekly drop-in meetings?
That’s very normal. Many teens feel unsure before trying something new, especially if their fear has been around for a while.
The programme is designed to be gentle and supportive. Parents will be given guidance on how to introduce the recordings without pressure.
Is this therapy?
The weekly drop-in meetings are there for questions, guidance, and support during the trial.
They are not an essential part of the programme, but are recommended if you have questions or want help supporting your teen, but the key required meeting is the trial start meeting before the programme begins.
Will this cure my teen’s emetophobia?
Is this suitable if my teen is already having therapy or CAMHS support?
Fear to Freedom is a self-guided mind-training programme using hypnotherapy-style recordings and supportive resources.
It is not emergency support, crisis support, or a replacement for medical advice, therapy, or mental health care where this is needed.
It may still be suitable, but this depends on your teen’s situation.
The pre-trial questionnaire asks about current support so I can understand whether the programme is likely to be appropriate alongside anything already in place.
Privacy and Data Note for the Fear to Freedom Trial
The information you provide in this questionnaire will be used to review whether the Fear to Freedom Trial is likely to be a suitable fit for your family, to contact you about the trial, and to support the running and review of the programme.
This may include your contact details, your teen’s first name and age, information about how emetophobia is affecting them, and feedback about your experience of the trial.
Some of the information you share may relate to your teen’s emotional wellbeing, anxiety, health, eating, or current support needs. This information will be treated as confidential and handled with care.
Your information will not be shared publicly. Any feedback or testimonial comments will only be used publicly with your separate permission, and can be anonymised.
Information from the trial will be used to help review and improve the Fear to Freedom programme before it is released more widely.
Your information will only be seen by me, unless there is a safeguarding concern, legal requirement, or serious risk of harm that means information may need to be shared with an appropriate person or service.
Trial questionnaire responses and feedback will be kept securely for up to 12 months after the trial, unless you give separate permission for anonymised feedback or testimonial wording to be kept and used for programme development or marketing.
For full details about how personal information is handled, please see the Privacy Policy: https://youngmindshypnotherapy.co.uk/privacy-policy
Disclaimer - Please note results can vary from person to person
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Please note there are no appointments held at this office. All appointments are online only