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Course to cure spider terror
A zoo's "spiderphobia" course can banish fear of the creatures with hypnosis, education and an optional meeting with the eight-legged beasts, it was claimed today.
Arachnophobes are being offered a place on the Living with Spiders course at Bristol Zoo, to be held in April.
Experts will help people with extreme arachnophobia overcome their terror of the creepy crawlies through a combination of "education, discussion, relaxation and hypnotherapy".
Mary Ison, a local counsellor, hypnotherapist and phobia expert, will lead the session, which for the brave includes an "optional meeting" with a cluster of spiders.
The courses are run by Bristol Zoo Garden's education section which believes that the media is often to blame for portraying the creatures as "sinister".
Simon Garrett, head of learning at the zoo, said: "Many people find spiders fascinating, but for others they are simply terrifying and 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 to help them do so.
"On our spider phobia courses, the emphasis is on changing the balance of control, from spiders being in control of people's lives, to people being in control of themselves and their environment.
"These highly successful seminars are small and personal, with participants enjoying a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. They include 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."
The session will be held on April 8 from 6pm until 9.30pm, at Bristol Zoo Gardens.
It costs 85 per person, including refreshments. Places are limited to nine people but spaces are still available.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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