After his fear of flying kept him from returning home to the UK for 18 months, 12-year-old Joe Thompson, with the help of a hypnotherapist, was able to make the trip.

After his fear of flying kept him from returning home to the UK for 18 months, 12-year-old Joe Thompson, with the help of a hypnotherapist, was finally able to make the trip.

The boy’s extreme phobia came on quite quickly while the family was living in Abu Dhabi.

They’d moved there in 2009, by plane and without incident.

The anxiety first showed in 2012 when the family was returning from a visit to Britain.

Joe’s next trip to the airport is when his fear completely overcame him.

He was on his way to Sri Lanka for a rugby tournament but just before takeoff he experienced a panic attack so severe he had to leave the plane.

A few months later when the family was moving home, Joe wasn’t even able to board the flight without becoming panicked and experiencing physical pain. The family tried to make the move 4 times, but the attempts were all unsuccessful.

Finally, a hypnotherapist offered his expertise. Through a combination of cognitive therapy and hypnosis, the man was able to get the boy onto the plane and keep him calm while they made the trip home.