Help with Fear and Phobias in London

‘Phobia’ comes from the Greek word for fear or dread, and is the term used to describe an intense fear that some people experience when faced with certain situations.

People with phobias have a compelling need to flee and avoid the phobic object or situation. This fear is irrational and not based on sound judgement. The person suffering from a phobia may know there is no real danger in a situation but the fear and anxiety will feel very real.

We all experience fear of certain things or situations to a degree, but fear in those who suffer from a phobia can be acute and can cause far-reaching complications that impede life functioning. A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder.

Some examples of phobias that clients bring to counselling include agoraphobia (fear of leaving a safe place), social phobia (fear of people) and claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces). Some people fear needles while some may have an overwhelming fear of public transport (for example, a fear of travelling on underground trains).

How can counselling help with phobias or fear?

There are many approaches a therapist might use to help a client suffering from this kind of anxiety. Many of our therapists use a combination of therapeutic approaches, including cognitive behavioural therapy  to explore the underlying causes of the problem and examine the thoughts and feelings that contribute to the fear. The client and therapist might identify what triggers feelings of fear or dread and look at the body’s reactions to these triggers.

Through gaining insight, the therapist and client would then seek to change the thoughts and behaviours that are associated with the phobia. This type of therapy is about changing how a person thinks and feels about the phobic object or situation.

There are other types of therapy that can also be helpful when dealing with phobias and your therapist will consider which approaches might be most helpful in your circumstances.

Our phobia counsellors can help make sense of irrational fears

Living with persistent irrational fear can be distressing and can make even everyday situations difficult for some people.

In counselling for phobias, your therapist in London will help you understand the basis of your problematic fear. We will explore the underlying causes of your phobia and carefully help you overcome the fear, stress and anxiety that comes with most types of phobias.

Some phobias are deeply-rooted and require medium or longer-term personal counselling to fully resolve. Other fears and phobias can be alleviated more quickly through shorter-term brief therapy. Your therapist will help you determine which type of therapy will be most suitable for your circumstances. Through talking through your fear with an experienced therapist, and through learning techniques to help cope with phobias, most people will overcome irrational fear and anxiety.

You are not alone

In the UK it’s estimated that 10 million people have phobias. Phobias can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or social background. Some phobias originate in childhood while others develop later in life. Sometimes there is an obvious explanation for a phobia, sometimes there is not.

Please get in touch if we might be able to help. If it suits you better, you may be interested in our telephone and online counselling.

How does therapy help?

Over the years that I’ve worked as a therapist, I’ve been asked numerous times by prospective clients, “How does counselling help?”  And I’ve yet to come up with a satisfactory answer. Not because I’m in any doubt that it helps, but because the ‘how’ bit is so hard to articulate concisely…

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What is CBT and can it help?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a practical talking therapy that helps people with problems and issues by addressing and changing how they think and behave. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy focuses on the present problems that are happening now and the relationships between thoughts…

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Individual counselling

Our personal counselling services take place in a supportive, non-judgemental atmosphere.

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Couples counselling

Couples counselling provides space for couples to discuss problems in their relationship and find resolution.

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Our therapists in London

Our therapists bring a wealth of experience and training to the therapy services we provide.

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Counselling, psychotherapy, couples counselling in London since 2006

Client Reviews

One Therapy London

Therapist Toulla Nicolaides
Toulla Nicolaides

Toulla is an integrative relational therapist using a combination of therapeutic approaches to help her clients She provides a safe and supportive environment for individuals to explore their difficulties in life, relationships and childhood and to share and resolve confusing and overwhelming feelings Toulla believes that, though challenging, therapy can help clients...

Fitzrovia

Therapist Ameet Magan
Ameet Magan

Ameet is from London and holds an MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy He has more than a decade’s experience of working in a one-to-one capacity with clients He has also trained in groupwork and has worked since 2016 as a group psychotherapist and clinical practitioner with the NHS in East London Ameet is a warm, grounded and reflective person He works with compassion...

Kensington

Therapist Evan Bates
Evan Bates

Evan is a psychodynamic therapist, offering both long and short term therapy He creates a non-judgemental and reflective space to help clients explore their difficulties and concerns Working together to understand the connections between past and current relationships, Evan supports clients in developing a deeper awareness of their recurring emotional patterns and further...

Soho

Fitzrovia

Therapist Marta Pisarri
Marta Pisarri

Consultant Integrative Psychotherapist Visiting lecturer at Regent's University Diploma in Somatic Trauma Therapy Advance Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy MSc in Clinical Psychology Marta is a psychologist and an integrative psychotherapist: she has been working in the field of mental health for over 12 years in both private...

Soho

Therapist Nicola Reeves
Nicola Reeves

Consultant Therapist MA Psychodynamic Psychotherapy  EMDR Practitioner Qualified Clinical Supervisor Nicola is a psychodynamic psychotherapist and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapist Nicola believes in giving clients time and space to approach therapy in the way they need to approach it She finds this is the best way to develop a...

Soho

Therapist Giselle van Rheede
Giselle van Rheede

Consultant Therapist Dip Psychodynamic Counselling  BA (Hon) Psychology MA Education Giselle is an experienced Psychodynamic Counsellor who has worked with a diverse range of people from a multitude of backgrounds, cultures and faiths Her focus in therapy is to help you to open avenues for growth and to facilitate change through exploring the way you relate to your...

Oxford Circus

Fitzrovia

Therapist Silvi Naskinova
Silvi Naskinova

Consultant Therapist MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy HE in Humanistic and Psychodynamic Counselling Silvi is a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist offering long and short-term therapy to adult individuals She aims to provide a safe, non-judgmental and confidential space for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings Her work supports individuals in...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Michelle Taylor
Michelle Taylor

Consultant Therapist Diploma & Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling Michelle is a qualified psychodynamic therapist providing a calm and confidential space to allow her clients to unravel their deepest anxieties whilst feeling understood Michelle has particular experience working with adults experiencing bereavement and loss, anxiety, and depression...

Fitzrovia

Therapist Yussef Ferguson
Yussef Ferguson

Consultant Psychodynamic Psychotherapist MSc Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy BA (Hons) Social Work Yussef is a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist who offers both long and short term personal therapy to individuals He has experience of working with a diverse range of clients and can provide a warm, confidential space to explore and gain insight into any past or...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Ava Kinsey
Ava Kinsey

Ava is a qualified psychodynamic psychotherapist and counsellor She works with the NHS both as an adult psychotherapist at a complex trauma unit, and as a perinatal psychotherapist working with mothers and their infants and toddlers Before that, she worked as a psychotherapist in secondary care at the NHS, treating clients who experienced early relational/sexual trauma or...

Bloomsbury