Specific Phobia Treatment
Specific Phobia is characterized by the presence of a severe and persistent fear of a particular object or situation (e.g. flights, dogs, driving, medical procedures, enclosed places). Most people identify these fears as unreasonable or excessive. These fears interfere with the person’s life, academically, socially or with their occupational functioning. The person also experiences anticipatory anxiety when they encounter these situations or objects. Therefore, these situations are likely to be avoided or endured with significant distress.
Specific Phobias may be related to past traumatic situations or panic attacks that occurred in a situation that will later become anxiety provoking. They could also be associated to observation of others having similar fears (e.g. a phobic mother) as well as to the ongoing transmission of “catastrophic messages” (e.g. by families or media).
The most effective treatment for Specific Phobia is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This treatment modality includes techniques such as In vivo Exposure, imaginal exposure, cognitive restructuring, relaxation training, etc
