Specific Phobias

SPECIFIC PHOBIAS

Specific Phobias are fears about certain circumstances or stimuli. People can have phobic fears about any topic, but phobias often occur in relation to:

• Animals
• Needles
• Natural disasters
• Airplanes
• Elevators
• Enclosed spaces
• Vomit
• Clowns.

Of course, this list could go on and on. Someone can have a phobia about anything. So what do phobias look like? Those with phobias attempt to avoid the things they fear and almost always have anxiety in the face of their triggers. This is why Phobias are classified as anxiety disorders. For those with a Phobia, the fear or avoidance leads to distress or impairs functioning.

TREATMENT FOR SPECIFIC PHOBIAS

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), with a focus on Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), is an evidence-based treatment that can help those with Phobias to live their lives in the face of their fears. In CBT, people are taught about how their disorder works so that they know how to disrupt unhelpful patterns. People also learn to question their thoughts instead of taking them all at face value. In this process, they are taught about types of thought errors so that they can notice them and reflect on whether these thoughts need more of their focus. People then practice facing their triggers, slowly but surely, so that they can learn to make space for the thoughts and feelings that arise in the context of their anxieties. This is the process of ERP.

Lauren also incorporates Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into her work. These treatments involve accepting thoughts, feelings, urges and sensations with curiosity and acceptance toward these internal experiences. In this process, Lauren also helps people to consider their values so that their actions reflect the qualities they aspire to rather than their anxiety.