Specific Phobia

Finding The Right Treatment

Treatment

Specific phobias can be successfully treated with psychotherapy, and some people are also treated with medications.

Finding a therapist

Psychotherapy can greatly help people with specific phobias and is where many people learn to overcome their phobias. Most therapists have experience working with adults with phobias and therapy is increasingly offered virtually.

There are different kinds of professionals who can provide effective therapy, including:

• Clinical psychologists (PhD)
• Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW or LMSW)
• Licensed professional counselors (LPC)
• Licensed clinical professional counselors (LCPC)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
• National certified counselors (NCC)

In recent years, more therapists employ cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a method that helps the individual identify unhelpful thought patterns and challenge self-destructive cognitions, and replaces them with more constructive thinking. In the treatment of specific phobias, most therapists use a specific form of CBT called exposure therapy. With the help of a therapist, the phobic person will desensitize themselves to their fears by learning to safely experience their feared objects or situations.

As a team, the therapist and patient work together to learn coping skills to manage intense anxiety, change the way they think about or view their fears, and eventually be able to do, see, or be around the object of their phobia. Becoming desensitized to phobias does not mean that the person will become reckless or will wish to embrace what formerly terrorized them. The person formerly with a phobia may still be mildly afraid or have a healthy fear of a dangerous situation however, they will likely react in the way in which they want to and feel more confident facing these situations.

The decision to start therapy

Many people try to cope with their distress on their own, and then feel disappointed when they find that this is very difficult to do. Deciding to start therapy can be hard; it takes courage.

For some people, it can take time to warm up to the idea of sharing one’s intimate thoughts or disclosing details of one’s life, especially for those who grew up in a culture where seeking psychological help was frowned upon.

Psychotherapy is increasingly accepted as not only a way to improve mental health symptoms, but also a means for self exploration and personal growth. No problem is too small for a trained therapist: an individual need not worry that others may have it worse. The willingness to reach out for help is increasing: in 2020, one out of every six Americans (men and women) reported seeing a therapist.

Seeing a therapist with whom one feels comfortable, and a sense of connection, and who also participates in their insurance network, is essential. It may take a couple tries to find a therapist who feels like the right fit. If therapy didn't help the first time around, it can be helpful to give another therapist a try because therapeutic styles vary so much from therapist to therapist.

Where to start

Asking one’s physician to make a referral is often a good place to start. Many health insurance cards have websites or 1-800 numbers to call for a list of in-network providers.

To find a therapist who takes one's insurance, the National Institute of Mental Health offers a comprehensive list of resources.

Psychology Today also lists therapists by type, location and insurance.

Determining whether medications will play a role in treatment

People with specific phobias do not typically need medications to treat their phobias, unless medications are taken for another problem, such as depression, anxiety, or a medical problem. The most common medications to use for a simple phobia are SSRI antidepressants. Beta-blockers such as propranolol have also been employed to work against the physiological symptoms of anxiety, but the research is inconclusive on their efficacy, and the helpfulness of this treatment varies greatly from individual to individual.

FDA warning about Antidepressants

Some research exists that, occasionally, newly initiated anti-depressants may increase the risk of suicide. If an individual begins to have these thoughts after starting an anti-depressant, please stop this medicine and contact a prescriber immediately. This risk is more evident in children, adolescents, and young adults.

Dietary supplements

There are an increasing number of supplements, such as an herb, vitamin, mineral, and other supplements claiming to improve sleep, depression, stress, restlessness, or anxiety. While it is possible for a supplement to improve one’s symptoms, their effects are often unproven.

Be aware that dietary supplements are not controlled by the FDA and, therefore, are not subject to the standards of quality, uniformity, and testing for efficacy and safety as regulated medications. It is important to share a list of all medications and supplements with one's treating provider because some of them may interact with the medications they prescribe.

Healthcare providers that can prescribe medications

Psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and physician assistants are practitioners who are trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions by prescribing medications. Sometimes it's hard to find a psychiatric provider because there are so many people who need them. So, individuals often choose to see a different kind of provider who can prescribe. This could be a doctor they already see, like a primary care doctor, family doctor or OB/GYN, or a new primary doctor.