Phobia courses

Living with spiders

'Living with spiders' is a course run at Bristol Zoo Gardens for people suffering from spider phobia

Many people find spiders fascinating, others regard them as a little scary. For some a fear of spiders can seriously affect their lives. Our culture does nothing to dispel the myths, with spider television programmes often accompanied by sinister music and gothic lighting.

At Bristol Zoo Gardens we have responded to the demand for people wanting to get over their fear of spiders by offering courses, called 'Living with spiders'. These seminars take place in the Zoo's Conservation Education Centre, and are led by Mary Ison, a counsellor and hypnotherapist at the Clifton Counselling Clinic. These seminars are small and personal, with up to ten participants enjoying a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. The three and a half hour session includes a variety of approaches, since different people benefit from different 'therapies', and nobody is asked to do anything that they don't want to do.

Questions, discussion and sharing of experiences and knowledge are all welcome throughout.