With severe aquaphobia, a person's reaction to water is more adverse than mild unease and usually requires more than a few swimming lessons to treat. There are various techniques available for the treatment of aquaphobia, ranging from hypnosis to behavior therapy. Some techniques require a series of sessions while others known as rapid treatments promise fast results. Medicines are rarely used in treating aquaphobia but some people who suffer from severe anxiety and depression as a result of the phobia may need to take medications.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is currently one of the offered treatments for aquaphobia. This technique entails presenting one's fears as hypotheses that can be tested out to prove if they are realistic or not. It enables the person to play a more active role and gain control of his fears. In neuro-linguistic programming, another treatment for aquaphobia, the fear is viewed as a mental construct which can be revised or reprogrammed to yield a more favorable and beneficial result.

Another treatment for severe aquaphobia is hypnotherapy or the use of hypnosis. In this technique, a therapist digs though the subconscious to unearth the cause of the fear. Then, with the use of hypnotic suggestion, the mind is encouraged to view these things as nonthreatening. Other treatments make use of the virtual reality technique complimented by the cognitive-behavioral therapy to cure aquaphobia.