Commonly treated phobias
These are some of the phobias I treat most often. If yours isn't listed, ask. The same approach works for most specific fears.
- Flying
- Dread before trips, panic on board, or avoiding air travel. See the fear of flying program.
- Heights
- Balconies, stairs, ladders, overlooks, or tall buildings.
- Driving
- Highways, merging, being a passenger, or driving far from home.
- Bridges and tunnels
- Long or high bridges, causeways, and tunnels.
- Elevators and enclosed spaces
- Claustrophobia: elevators, small rooms, MRI-style spaces, crowded cabins.
- Storms
- Thunder, lightning, hurricanes, and weather-checking.
- Dogs and other animals
- Dogs, cats, birds, or other animals you avoid.
- Spiders, insects, and snakes
- Fear that shapes where you go and what you check for.
- Water and swimming
- Deep water, swimming, boats, or the ocean.
- Vomiting (emetophobia)
- Fear of throwing up or seeing others get sick, often with food or travel avoidance.
- Choking
- Fear of choking that leads to avoiding certain foods or eating in public.
- Public speaking
- Presentations, meetings, or being the center of attention.
- Crowds and busy places
- Stores, events, airports, or places that are hard to leave.
How treatment works
Phobias stay strong through avoidance. Every time you steer around the fear, you feel relief, and your brain learns the situation must be dangerous.
Exposure therapy reverses that. We build a step-by-step plan, from easier to harder, and you practice each step until the fear settles. ACT skills help you make room for anxiety rather than fighting it, so you can keep moving toward what you want to do.
For some fears that are hard to practice on demand, virtual reality practice can be an optional middle step. It supports real-world exposure; it doesn't replace it.
Common questions
What is a specific phobia?
A specific phobia is an intense fear of a particular situation, object, or activity that leads to avoidance or real distress, even when you know the fear is out of proportion. It's one of the most common anxiety problems, and one of the most treatable.
How is a phobia treated?
With gradual exposure therapy. Together we build a ladder of steps from easier to harder, and you practice each one until your fear settles. ACT skills help you handle the anxiety along the way. Many people see meaningful progress in a relatively small number of sessions.
Do you use virtual reality for phobias?
Sometimes, and only if you want to. For fears that are hard to practice on demand, like flying or heights, VR exposure can be a useful step between session work and the real situation. Real-world exposure is still where lasting change happens.
Can phobias be treated online?
Yes. We plan and practice exposures over secure video, and much of the practice happens in your own environment between sessions.