FuriousGeorge - I have had hypnotherapy twice for a severe phobia of injections, blood tests in particular, after having viral meningitis as a 5 and then a 6 year old. I had two extremely bad experiences while having blood taken, and have suffered really irrational responses (panic attacks, black outs, hysteria - even a fully blown fit once)to injections ever since (I am now 30).
The first time (NHS, about 9 years ago) it didn't work at all, but i don't think i took it seriously as a therapy so that could have been in part down to me.
The second time (private, £40/session as I knew I would have to have booking bloods taken due to becoming pregnant this time last year) I felt as though I made great progress during the first few sessions and then slipped back into having panic responses etc, and when it came to the crunch that didn't work either, and I ended up having my blood taken under general anaesthetic which I was deeply ashamed about, as I knew it was a risk to my baby.
I know how utterly debilitating something like this can be - I'm normally a pragmatic, capable person but this issue has plagued me for nearly 25 years!
After the general anaesthetic I was referred to a mother and baby mental health unit and had meetings with a consultant clinical psychologist who spent a number of sessions just questioning me about the intricacies of my fear, and then tried to bring them together into a series of goals which we were supposed to tackle one at a time (starting with the smallest first).
To cut a long story short, she basically said that I needed to develop some positive memories as I had a 'learned' response due to previous experiences, which wouldn't change till I acquired some new ones. We started by watching and old training video for nurses which went through the process bit by bit. I couldn't even watch it to start with without overheating and almost passing out.
After sitting observing me trying to watch it, she then taught me a technique (I'm sorry - I don't know what it is called or who devised it) which involved rhythmically and firmly tapping the area on the side of one hand (underneath your pinkie), followed by the soft parts on the side of your head by your eyes (using both hands), then your forehead on the two points where your eyebrows begin, underneath both eyes on the bony part, just underneath the nose, just underneath your bottom lip and finally just below your collarbone at the top of your breast. Sorry for the long list, I would draw you a diagram if I could!!
Apparently this technique has been used on people who have been traumatised (seemingly it has been used on soldiers and has had good results).
The first time I did it I felt quite self conscious and was v sceptical, but did think it produced a bizarre feeling of mild 'elation' - is the only was I can describe it. It just seemed to lift my spirits a bit!
Anyway, I practised it (not reciting affirmations as was suggested to me, but while trying to watch the video), and after about a month of preparing myself I actually willingly had an injection without any adverse reaction for the first time in 25 yrs. I'm not sure how it worked - it didn't feel wholly like a diversionary thing iyswim.
Sorry for the HUUUUUUUUGE post, but this is the only thing that has worked for me - I've had 6 injections now, after a minor slip back into anxiety about them (anti d's during and after pregnancy and a spinal and canula during labour). This is something I thought I would never achieve. I haven't had a blood test yet but I'm continuing to work with this fabulous doctor ad now think it is not outwith the realms of possibility that I will be able to shake this dreadful fear.
In my experience hypnotherapy was a good thing in terms of teaching me relaxation techniques, but it was simply not enough of a weapon against a deeply manifest problem. I would highly recommend asking your GP for a referral and doing a bit of research on clinical methods of tackling these things.