Get a kitten and raise it and go from there.  Kittens are more loveable it seems like and they are smaller.  But you have to be able to take care of the cat.  If you go out and get a cat, I would say a kitten.  Or cat sit for a friend I have tried that.  Or go to a friends house and try hanging out with their cat.  I have done all of these and I still dont care for cats.  However, I have a cat, she is feisty as ever.  I take care of her, she just dont like people much.  I got her when she was a kitten.  I answered your previous question.  I think cats can sence if you are afraid of them and if you are a cat lover they are better around those people.  Good luck.

 You should be able to get over the fear, but it may take a therapist.  People fear cats for many reasons, but your reason is very legitimate.  If that had happened when you were older, it may not have affected you as much.  Since I'm owned by a cat, it's hard to understand anyone fearing cats, but again, I never had an experience like your's.  I hope you find a way of getting over the fear, because cats have so much to offer.  They can lower your blood pressure and stress level, and they offer loads of unconditional love.  Good luck with this, I hope you find a way.
 
P.S.  Pretty ironic when I mentioned they could lower your blood pressure and stress level.  They probably send your's soaring.! 

 I dont care for cats either.  Not that I hate them, they are just not my favorite animal.  They scratch and hiss.  I was throwing the garbage out once and one was hiding in the garbage can and jumped out at me and hissed and I was never the same since.  I have seen a lot of fiesty cats, I dont know how many people can have nice cats that are so loveable.  I guess they have to be cat people huh?  I have a cat, it is my kids cat.  I dont like her though, she lives outside now.  She just had her first batch of kittens and they all were born dead.  I think they were too early some did not have enough hair and were the size of a mouse.  But I felt bad for her and tried to take care of her and the poor dead kittens.  Now she is a feisty cat again.  Dont care for her much, but she lives here and we will take care of her.  I would not go to counseling about a phobia of cats.  I dont think I will ever change my oppinion either.  SO good luck.  I know where you are coming from I am there too.

 Hi Daisyw,
I just visited my sister and her family in Florida ...she had a mommy cat and 4 babies about 4 months old...I've always gotten a little creeped out by cats mouthes and claws. Over a period of a week or so I would sit and watch the cats plying and jumping around...I then started petting them here and there and I just begin to feel all warm and fuzzy with them. They were truly so sweet. I have always owned german shepherds all my life. I also have a little fear of the smaller breeds of dogs a.k.a. "morsels" to my big dogs , they seem to suffer from napolean syndrome

 Just think about how terrified that cat was.
It is easier to raise a kitten into a nice cat then it is to convert a wild one.
I always spent the first 2 days with a kitten. I declared them (front only), neutered/spayed so they don't fight, mark their territory, and always got their shots, especially the distemper.
If I asked you what kind of ice cream you liked and you said mint and I said why, you would probably say because you like it. The truth is that you have chosen it to be your favorite.
Save the therapy money. Choose that you are going to tolerate or like cats more. Start off with petting or holding more kittens. Put yourself in their place, where would you like to be scratched or petted. Sometime you can just hold out you hand with your fingers tight together and a cat will just use you to scratch and you do not have to do anything but stay still.
Just a reminder to everyone, If a kitten or cat sticks its claws into you when they are playing, Don't pull away, you can gently pull the paw away or just wait. Otherwise you will get scratched worse than anything else.
Good luck, maybe this will make you stronger and braver to try other new things.