Fear of your stepmother (novercaphobia)

Novercaphobia is a fear of your stepmother. It can range from unease about a new family arrangement to strong anxiety around one particular person. Family gatherings, visits and even phone calls may feel difficult.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Latin noverca, meaning stepmother. It is a rare term found mostly on lists of phobias. A related term on the same lists is vitricophobia, a fear of a stepfather.

What it feels like

• Anxiety before family visits where she will be present
• Staying quiet or on guard in her company
• Feeling torn between a parent and the new family set-up

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

What if the fear comes from how I was treated?

Then it may be more than a phobia, and it deserves proper support. A GP or specialist counsellor can help, and you do not have to manage it alone.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices