Phobia Therapy
Phobia therapy with us could help you in a number of different ways. Phobia therapy gives you an opportunity to share your difficulty with a qualified therapist which can help you feel supported with the difficulty. We also use two main approaches to help people with phobias. The first is eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy and the second is mindful exposure therapy if needed after doing EMDR. If there are tangible triggers and a known underlying event or cause of the phobia EMDR can be very effective.
EMDR using a phobia protocol can be enough on its own but we might also need to test how effective the therapy has been by a gradual exposure to the phobia a client might have.
We do not use CBT to change the phobia directly as phobias are irrational. We might use it as part of gradual exposure to the phobia and ways of dealing with it on a practical level. We may also do some somatic psychotherapy work around the phobia symptoms to help bolster EMDR, exposure and a practical approach.
Phobias affect over 10 million people in the UK making them the most common type of anxiety disorder. Phobias can interfere with daily life and cause a somatic and psychological reaction more commonly known as a panic attack. Symptoms are not mild and cannot be rationalised away through positive thinking.
What Is A Phobia?
A phobia is an anxiety disorder which is characterised by an extreme, irrational fear or aversion to something. A phobia might be related to an object, situation, place, animal, noise, body function or person. Coming into contact or the thought of a particular object or situation can cause an irrational fear and anxiety. Phobias can be simple or complex. A simple phobia is something simple like an animal phobia that we might have in childhood and grow out of with age. A complex phobia is something we might have in childhood but do not grow out of. Complex phobias are more deep rooted and are characterised by a deep seated fear or anxiety about a situation or circumstance. Reactions can be behavioural, physical and mental. They are often intense and rationalising with them has a limited impact on them.
What Is A Phobia?
A phobia is an anxiety disorder which is characterised by an extreme, irrational fear or aversion to something. A phobia might be related to an object, situation, place, animal, noise, body function or person. Coming into contact or the thought of a particular object or situation can cause an irrational fear and anxiety. Phobias can be simple or complex. A simple phobia is something simple like an animal phobia that we might have in childhood and grow out of with age. A complex phobia is something we might have in childhood but do not grow out of. Complex phobias are more deep rooted and are characterised by a deep seated fear or anxiety about a situation or circumstance. Reactions can be behavioural, physical and mental. They are often intense and rationalising with them has a limited impact on them.
What Causes A Phobia?
Phobias are believed to have their roots in trauma. A highly traumatic event is experienced and a phobia anxiety results from the trauma. This fear can get transferred to similar situations or objects. Phobias can also be passed on through other family members which is a learnt behaviour. Sometimes clients report no tangible cause of a particular phobia or cannot remember a specific cause. People who are phobic of something might use avoidance and complex management strategies to avoid coming into contact with an object or situation. Phobias can affect people from any age, gender, background or ethnicity. Phobias often manifest before the age of 10.
What Causes A Phobia?
Phobias are believed to have their roots in trauma. A highly traumatic event is experienced and a phobia anxiety results from the trauma. This fear can get transferred to similar situations or objects. Phobias can also be passed on through other family members which is a learnt behaviour. Sometimes clients report no tangible cause of a particular phobia or cannot remember a specific cause. People who are phobic of something might use avoidance and complex management strategies to avoid coming into contact with an object or situation. Phobias can affect people from any age, gender, background or ethnicity. Phobias often manifest before the age of 10.
Phobia Symptoms
Phobia symptoms are characterised by excessive physical and emotional responses caused by coming into contact with something that you are phobic of. Phobia symptoms are not usually proportional to the actual threat level. Phobia symptoms are proportional to a high perceived high threat level. A person's nervous system has decided that there is a direct threat and panic follows. A person's phobia symptoms could include, behavioural, somatic and mental changes. Examples of phobia symptoms could include: avoidance behaviours, intrusive thoughts, excessive fear, panic attacks, anxiety attacks, feeling sick, catastrophizing, excessive sweating, dizziness, racing heart, shallow breathing, shaking and feeling sick.
Phobia Symptoms
Phobia symptoms are characterised by excessive physical and emotional responses caused by coming into contact with something that you are phobic of. Phobia symptoms are not usually proportional to the actual threat level. Phobia symptoms are proportional to a high perceived high threat level. A person's nervous system has decided that there is a direct threat and panic follows. A person's phobia symptoms could include, behavioural, somatic and mental changes. Examples of phobia symptoms could include: avoidance behaviours, intrusive thoughts, excessive fear, panic attacks, anxiety attacks, feeling sick, catastrophizing, excessive sweating, dizziness, racing heart, shallow breathing, shaking and feeling sick.
Common Phobias
Phobias are remarkably common with up to 10 million people in the UK having one. Phobias are varied and can include an object, a situation, a person, an animal or body function. Some people are able to manage phobias through avoidance. Sometimes this is not possible because life becomes too inconvenient with avoidance strategies. For example a person with a needle phobia might avoid medical help which is detrimental to their health in other ways.
The most common phobias in the UK include a: fear of heights, needles, spiders, flying, public speaking, social situations, dogs, medical procedures, the dentists, public speaking, confined spaces, being outside, certain food types or a body function: e.g. having a fear of being sick (emetophobia).
Common Phobias
Phobias are remarkably common with up to 10 million people in the UK having one. Phobias are varied and can include an object, a situation, a person, an animal or body function. Some people are able to manage phobias through avoidance. Sometimes this is not possible because life becomes too inconvenient with avoidance strategies. For example a person with a needle phobia might avoid medical help which is detrimental to their health in other ways.
The most common phobias in the UK include a: fear of heights, needles, spiders, flying, public speaking, social situations, dogs, medical procedures, the dentists, public speaking, confined spaces, being outside, certain food types or a body function: e.g. having a fear of being sick (emetophobia).
Common Phobias UK %
Professional help for phobias
Matthew Alderton - Psychotherapist
MA, BSc, PG Dip, PG Dip Psych
I am a counsellor, psychotherapist and EMDR practitioner. I work with clients who have a variety of mental health and somatic difficulties. EMDR is the leading evidence based approach to trauma. Phobias and trauma are closely related making EMDR an effective tool to help clients with phobias especially those caused by historical trauma. This is because it can help resolve the root cause of a phobic difficulty helping to reduce symptoms. I maintain a flexibility in relation to helping people with phobias but usually use: EMDR, exposure therapy, body psychotherapy and a behavioural therapy approach for assisting with practical phobia difficulties. I am approachable and down to earth which can help you feel well held and comfortable working through your phobic difficulty. I look forward to hearing from you.
Behavioural Therapy
We use this type of therapy for phobias as a support rather than a stand alone therapy for phobias. This helps with with changing thinking and habits and bolstering the other phobia focused therapies.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing therapy is used to help desensitise and reprocess associated historical trauma and phobia triggers.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy provides a solid base to work from in relation to helping people with phobias. EMDR is used as an adjunct to psychotherapy to help with phobias.
Body Psychotherapy
Body psychotherapy addresses somatic issues caused by historical trauma which can underpin phobias. It can also help manage phobia triggers as a go to practical intervention to bring down the nervous system.
Bilateral Movement Demonstration
EMDR therapy utilises bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation refers to a gentle stimulation of the right and left side of the body alternately. Bilateral stimulation is carried out at different speeds depending on the EMDR therapy phase of treatment.
This can include following a finger, light stick or moving ball. It can also include physical body tapping, auditory beats or bleeps or vibrating buzzers. Or a combination of several forms of billateral stimulation. Click on the video and follow the ball. This is an example of billateral eye movement.
Phobia Therapy Benefits
Trigger reduction
Phobia therapy can help reduce or dispell phobic triggers reducing the need for avoidance and management strategies.
Homeostasis
When we stop being triggered the nervous system can settle down helping you to restore balance and homeostasis in the body.
Freedom
Feel the freedom to live your life without being controlled by the fear of phobia triggers.
Happy
When you regain control of your phobia symptoms and are tiggered less you are able feel freedom to live your life and feel happier.
Phobia Therapy Benefits
Freedom
Feel the freedom to live your life without being controlled by the fear of phobia triggers.
Happy
When you regain control of your phobia symptoms and are tiggered less you are able feel freedom to live your life and feel happier.
Homeostasis
When we stop being triggered the nervous system can settle down helping you to restore balance and homeostasis in the body.
Trigger reduction
Phobia therapy can help reduce or dispell phobic triggers reducing the need for avoidance and management strategies.
Client's Experience Of Phobia Therapy
Phobia Therapy London
If you live in London come and see me in picturesque Little Venice Paddington for phobia therapy.
Phobia Therapy Hertfordshire
If you live in North London or Herts come and see me in leafy green Cuffley Hertfordshire for phobia therapy.
Therapy Enquiry
If you would like to book therapy with us or have a therapy enquiry please fill in our contact form.