generally counselors use gradual introduction of whatever is feared when treating phobias, so if I were dealing with someone who was very afraid or leery and it was important to me that person get used to snakes, I would approach it in a similar way. Basically, something along the lines of talking about snakes, followed by talking about my particular snake(s), then photos of the particular snake or species I keep, then information on the behavioral traits of the species, then seeing it in its enclosure from across a room, then seeing me hold it, then being encouraged to touch it with me holding it, then being encouraged to stroke it for longer periods of time and look at it more closely (eyes, belly, scales), then given the opportunity to hold it. Depending on the individual, this could take anywhere from 20 minutes to several months.