Therapy for Phobias

Phobias can develop around almost any object, situation or experience. Although other people may not understand the intensity of the fear, its effect on everyday life can be very real, leading to avoidance and gradually making a person’s world smaller.

I work collaboratively with each client, drawing on approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR). Therapy may involve understanding what is keeping the fear going, preparing carefully for change, gradually approaching what has been avoided, and processing distressing experiences or memories connected with the phobia. Treatment is tailored to the individual and undertaken at a pace that feels manageable.

TESTIMONIALS

EMDR for dental phobia following an incident

I was quite panicky after I had my tooth chipped. This was due to some unpleasant experiences at the dentist when I was quite young. A family friend recommended that I came to see Sarah, as I was dreading going to the dentist. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I am glad I came. It definitely changed the way I thought and processed about going to the dentist. I was surprised how quickly it took effect.

(Male, age 24)

EMDR for fear of flying 

Having enjoyed working successfully with Sarah on my anxiety issues, I decided to work on my fear of flying using EMDR. Before the EMDR, I had vivid memories of being scared on planes and sometimes when I experienced these it felt like I was actually back there on the plane. My fight and flight system had kicked in.  At that time, I could not contemplate flying again even though I knew it was holding me back from doing things, the fear was too strong. 

I have just finished my EMDR sessions this evening. When I think about those memories, I now feel relaxed. When I think about flying, I currently feel calm. At this point I feel I could go and book a short flight and try flying once again. However due to COVID-19 I have decided to wait until next year.

I have written this testimonial because I am impressed with how my attitude to flying has changed even though I am not in a position to actually test it out right now. I am looking forward to giving Sarah an update next year. 

(Female)

CBT for Social Phobia

Due to a long term illness I got stuck in a rut. I stopped seeing friends, going out and I withdrew. I had previously been a very active person. When I recovered from my illness, to my surprise I felt anxious about going out. I had never, ever had this before.  Basically my home became my safety net and unfortunately also a prison. Whenever I went out, I just wanted to go home. But being alone at home it felt worse and I got really down. 

Work provided me with 12 sessions of CBT with Sarah. I have really enjoyed the sessions with her.  Each week I have learnt something new. I have put all of this learning into practice. I have been able to challenge myself and successfully  go out socially again and meet new people. I have joined some groups which I am really enjoying. It is making my life better both socially and at work.  

If it wasn’t for the CBT techniques and Sarah encouraging me in the right way, I wouldn’t be having the fun I am having now. 100% thank you Sarah. I am grateful for everything. I feel I had a good connection with her and felt comfortable  from the get go.  

(Male age 43)

CBT for fear of going out alone after falling

I had a bad fall on a wet marble floor, which due to other circumstances in my life at the time, affected me badly.  Over time I became scared of going out on my own and my world got smaller and smaller.  I became depressed and severely anxious. 

CBT was recommended to me.  I was anxious about attending CBT sessions but decided to go ahead. I am so glad I plucked up the courage to come. It is amongst the best things I have done. It has taken a black cloud away from me. I feel mentally stronger. I am now able to go out on my own. I feel like a free spirit now, whereas after the fall I was trapped in a world of anxiety and depression.

I am very grateful to Sarah for all of her help. I have learnt so much.  I could just go on and on expressing how pleased I have been with this experience. 

(Female, age 55)

CBT for fear of falling

I came to see Sarah, because I was feeling low and  I had become anxious about falling having had 2 bad falls. I had put a lot of effort into trying not to fall, which exacerbated my anxiousness and I had become depressed because of my anxiousness. It was helpful for me to realise it had developed into a phobia of falling. 

We successfully treated my phobia, my anxiousness and my low mood using CBT techniques. Sarah suggested we could try using Trauma-Focussed CBT to process the memories of the bad falls. I found this to be really powerful. After 1 session of working on these memories, they have totally disappeared. I find this amazing. My phobia is extinct and now I can concentrate on my life again. Thank you Sarah.

(Female, 60)

EMDR for pigeon phobia

My fear of pigeons had reached a point where it was controlling my life, to the extent that I did not even want to go on holiday if I knew it was to a place where there were lots of pigeons.  If I was in a town centre and I saw some pigeons, I would avoid them by going into a shop or take a detour around the long way.  There was no way I could entertain the thought of sitting at an outdoor café, where pigeons might come around my feet.

Now after the EMDR treatment, I am a lot more confident around pigeons and I don’t avoid them.  On holiday recently, I was sitting at outdoor cafés and on one occasion 2 pigeons walked through the area. I didn’t move away from them and I just carried on drinking my coffee. On another occasion a pigeon came towards me and walked under my sunbed and I just ignored it, which was a big confidence boost for me.  

(Female, age 69)