A phobia is an intense fear. A fear becomes a phobia when it is out of proportion to any real threat and has a significant long-term effect on the person's life.
People with phobias may be well aware that their fear is irrational and that there is no real danger in a situation. However, they feel a compelling need to avoid the phobic object or situation.
Some examples of phobias that clients bring to counselling include
- agoraphobia (fear of leaving a safe place)
- social phobia (fear of people)
- claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces)
- fear or needles
- fear of flying
- fear of public speaking.
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 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.
Gradually the person will learn to tolerate their fear more and the compulsion to avoid the phobic object or situation will decline.
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.
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, we are happy to offer telephone counselling or online counselling.
We'll help you make sense of things from the very first appointment
We know that it can feel scary to start counselling. Our therapists will put you at ease and won’t judge you.
Your initial consultation is an opportunity for you to decide whether counselling is right for you, and whether the therapist you have chosen is a good fit. All our therapists are happy to refer you to someone else if the match doesn’t feel right.
Appointments are available on weekdays from 7.30 am until 8.30 pm and at weekends from 7.30 am until 7.30 pm.
Meet our therapists working with with phobias and fear
