Specific Phobias

If you are interested in counseling for Specific Phobias, call OakHeart at 630-570-0050 or 779-201-6440 or email us at [email protected]. We have counselors, psychologists, and social workers available to help you at one of our locations in North Aurora, IL, Sycamore, IL, and/or via Telehealth Online Therapy Services serving Kane County, DeKalb County, Dupage County, and beyond. 

What is a Specific Phobia?

A Specific Phobia is defined as a significant fear or anxiety about a specific object (e.g., dogs) or situation (e.g., flying on an airplane, heights, seeing blood, vomitting).

The object or situation is either completely avoided when possible, or when avoidance is not possible, the individual "white knuckles" through the situation with extreme anxiety and distress. Importantly, to be diagnosed with a Specific Phobia, the fear and anxiety in response to the object and/or situation(s) must be disproportionate to the actual danger. In addition, the phobia must impact a person't life and cause impairment in domains such as in occupational settings, social situations, relationships, educational achievement, etc. 

For example, an individual with a Specific Phobia of needles may avoid doctor's visits, hospitals, or getting vaccines, even if doing so might put them at risk. Or an individual with a driving phobia may be unable to obtain employment or spend time with friends or family. An individual with a phobia of flying on airplanes may miss out on promotions at work due to not being able to attend important meetings or conferences, or may miss out on opportunities to see loved ones or go on vacations, even when the person highly values doing these activities. 

How do you Treat Specific Phobias?

Call to Schedule an Appointment

Exposure-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a great option for the treatment of Specific Phobias. Treatment will include psychoeducation and helping the individual identify and alter misinterpretations of danger. The individual will be asked to face their fears, in a structured and controlled way with the support and help of their therapist. Exposures help the individual learn safety associations, so that their danger associations diminish. Avoidance is thought to perpetuate fear because, without exposure to the feared stimulus, there aren't sufficient opportunities for adaptive learning to take place. Confronting feared objects/situations while employing safety behaviors or "white knuckling" through a situation also inhibits safety learning. Therefore, removing avoidance and safety behaviors and asking the individual to face their fears allow for a re-programming of the individual's "alarm system."

Click here to learn more about Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Worry)
Click here to learn more about Social Anxiety Disorder
Click here to learn more about Panic Disorder
Click here to learn more about Health Anxiety/Illness Anxiety Disorder
Click here to learn more about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OakHeart Specific Phobia Counselors, Psychologists, and Social Workers

Kat Harris, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist
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Kat's Bio

Vanessa Osmer, MA

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

Vanessa's Bio

Pamela's Heilman, PsyD

LICENSED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
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Pamela's Bio

Hillary Gorin, PhD

LICENSED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
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Hillary's Bio

Gerry Lawm, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist​
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Gerry's Bio

Specific Phobia Related Blogs:

What to Expect in CBT Treatment Series: Specific Phobias

A Specific Phobia is an extreme anxiety about specific situations or objects (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Phobias range from fears of driving, flying, animals, insects, natural environment (such as storms), and elevators, to needles, vomiting, and medical procedures. They can be incredibly impairing and impact many aspects of your daily life...(to read more, click on the link above).    

Emetophobia: The Vomit Phobia

​An intense, disproportionate fear of vomiting might not sound all that debilitating for those who don’t suffer from emetophobia or for those without a loved one with emetophobia. However, having an intense fear of vomit can wreak havoc on one’s life and interfere in one’s ability to engage in activities that they might otherwise love to do, such as travel, eat at restaurants, try new foods, attend school, watch certain movies or tv shows, have children or care for sick children, spend time around children, visit a loved one in a hospital, etc...(to read more, click on the link above).