Phobias

• Do you have an intense fear of an object or living creature?
• Does this object or creature cause you great anxiety and stress?
• Does the phobia interfere with your ability to function?
• Do you wish to find a way to cope with your phobia?

What are phobias?

A phobia is an irrational fear of an object, situation, or living creature. A phobia can be a fear of animals or insects, blood, or flying in an airplane. A person will try anything to avoid the perceived danger. If you encounter the source of your phobia you can experience increased stress and be unable to function. Sometimes even thinking about the source of the phobias can result in increased stress. Therefore, people organize their lives so they can avoid contact with the source of their phobia.

Phobias can be a result of genetics or a negative experience. You might have had a negative experience connected with the object of your phobia. This could have been a stressful situation or a frightening event. Phobias usually develop at an early age.

Therapy can give you the tools to cope with your phobia

I have treated phobias for over 10 years. I work with all age groups and people from different backgrounds. My approach is tailored to your needs and my aim is to help you cope with your panic symptoms. I can help to free you from the symptoms of the disorder.

Why is my approach effective? I use an approach called cognitive behavioral therapy. This is a short-term goal oriented approach that aims to change your pattern of thinking and associated behaviors connected to those thoughts. Working together with you I look at the way your thoughts and attitudes that you have about different issues impact your behaviors. Once you understand the connection it becomes easier for you to cope with the panic symptoms.

I will also help you to examine the impact of negative thoughts on your ability to cope with stress. Negative thoughts usually originate in childhood as a result of the way that our family treated us.

Each session lasts for 50 minutes and we will meet once or twice a week depending on the severity of the symptoms you are experiencing and your individual needs. In each session we will work together on understanding the impact of your thoughts on your behaviors. I will also give you homework assignments so you can continue to work on the exercises we used during the session. Remember that you can overcome your phobia and find new ways to cope with your stress. Please call me at 646-7174860 for a free 30-minute consultation.