Online CBT Treatment for Fears & Phobias
Types of Fears & Phobias I Treat
I help people with any type of fear or phobia. If you don’t see your specific phobia on this list or you are unsure if my approach can help you – please email me or book a free consult and let’s discuss it.
- Agoraphobia
- Social phobia
- Fear of driving
- Fear of flying
- Hypochondria
- Emetophobia
- Specific Phobias
My Approach
I use Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for fears and phobias in a supportive, gradual way. We start by figuring out where and when the fear or phobia started. Knowing the cause can help it make sense. You will then be offered techniques and tools to manage your fears, calm your thoughts, and calm your body.
When you have practised these tools and they are strong enough to help you manage your emotions, will we move on to exposure therapy (if needed).
Aspects of Treatment
- Psycho-education around the brain and fear.
- Becoming more aware of your triggers.
- Becoming more aware of the thoughts that accompany those triggers.
- Becoming more aware of the actions that accompany those triggers.
- Enhancing your coping methods – various tips, tools, and techniques, to calm, breathe and tolerate distress in both your body and mind.
- Discuss how people you live with or you are close to might be hindering or helping your progress (without knowing it). We can then involve (or not) this person as a Supporter in your process – a parent, sibling, friend, partner or workmate. There are things Supporters should avoid and things they can do to help.
- Learn to use a “Distress Thermometer” to gauge distress level.
- Prepare a “fear ladder”. Together we outline a stepped plan for exposure therapy starting with something fairly easy and working up to the hardest fear or phobia. Often the first step is Imaginal Exposure – or thinking about a distressing trigger. We only move to a harder level once you are coping with the current level.
- Reinforce coping skills, and create rewards for pushing through each level until you achieve your goal.
- Once you have tamed or conquered your most difficult fear, we discuss a maintenance plan and self-care.
If you would like to discuss your situation, feel free to book a Free Consult using the link below.