Therapy for Phobias in Halifax, Nova ScotiaLooking for treatment for fears or phobias in the Halifax area?
Professional psychological help is available in Nova Scotia. 
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Phobias (officially diagnosed as a “Specific Phobia”) involve an intense fear and avoidance of one specific object, animal, or situation.
The fear may be related to harm that could come from encountering the specific animal (e.g., being bitten) or situation (e.g., being in a plane crash), but often the person cannot define exactly why he or she is afraid.
With the help of a qualified psychologist or therapist, phobias are usually treatable.
How are phobias diagnosed?
To diagnose a phobia, adults and teens must recognize that this fear is excessive and out of proportion to any actual danger (although this awareness is not necessary to diagnosis a child with a phobia).
Usually, the feared object or situation is avoided, but occasionally the person may endure the phobic stimulus if it is completely unavoidable. In order to be diagnosed with a phobia, it must significantly interfere with the person’s daily routine, occupational or academic functioning, or social life.
How do phobias differ from other anxiety-related problems?
Phobias do not involve “out of the blue” panic attacks, but panic-like symptoms may occur when the person encounters the object or the situation.
The phobic person does not fear having a panic attack as in agoraphobia – he or she fears the specific object or situation.
Finally, the person does not fear embarrassment in social situations as someone with social anxiety does.
How common are phobias?
Mild phobias are very common in the general population. For example, spider and snake phobias are common even among adults. However, receiving an official diagnosis of Specific Phobia is less common – mostly because the level of impairment does not meet the necessary threshold.
For example, someone may fear spiders but the level of distress does not prevent him or her from working, going to school, or interacting with others. According to the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) the one year prevalence rate for Specific Phobia ranges from 4% to 8%.
When are phobias most likely to emerge?
Phobias have several typical onset periods depending on the particular fear.
Situational phobias (such as a fear of flying, bridges, driving, or enclosed places) tend to peak in childhood or in the mid-20s.
Natural environment phobias (such as a fear of heights or water), animal phobias, and blood-related phobias are often first seen in childhood.
What are some common phobias?
Animal Phobia
Animal phobias often begin as childhood fears of dogs, snakes, spiders, rats, bats, etc. Usually these normal fears dissipate in adulthood, but occasionally they develop into full diagnosable phobias by adulthood.
Acrophobia
People with acrophobia are afraid of heights. This may include tall buildings, bridges, hills, or mountains. Occasionally, these individuals may experience dizziness or the sense that some force is pulling them to the edge of the structure.
Elevator Phobia
Individuals with elevator phobias either fear that the cables will break or that they will become trapped on the elevator. They may have panic attacks when using an elevator cannot be avoided.
Airplane Phobia
The most obvious and common fear is that the airplane they are flying in will crash. Other fears include a loss of air in the cabin or being hijacked. Approximately 10% of people completely avoid flying due to airplane phobias, while 20% report significant anxiety while flying.
Doctor or Dentist Phobia
These phobias often begin as a fear of needle, injections, or pain. However, the fear can expand to include anything related to medical or dental treatment. Read more about doctor or dental phobias.
Blood Phobia
People with blood phobias may faint (rather than panic which is the case for most other phobias) when exposed to blood.
Illness Phobia
This phobia involves a fear of becoming sick, contracting a serious illness, or dying due to medical condition such as cancer or a heart attack. Someone with an illness phobia is afraid of a single, definable illness whereas someone with Hypochondriasis mistakes physical sensations for physical illness and typically worries about many different illnesses and diseases.
How are phobias treated?
Phobias are generally treated with a cognitive behavioural therapy approach. Medication is not usually part of treatment.
Therapy for phobias typically includes relaxations training techniques (for example, abdominal breathing and progressive muscle relaxation), cognitive therapy (identifying, analyzing, challenging and replacing unhealthy or inaccurate thoughts), and gradual exposure (imagined and / or real) to the feared situation, animal, or object.
Therapy for phobias typically includes relaxations training techniques (for example, abdominal breathing and progressive muscle relaxation), cognitive therapy (identifying, analyzing, challenging and replacing unhealthy or inaccurate thoughts), and gradual exposure (imagined and / or real) to the feared situation, animal, or object.
How can I get started?
Treatment for phobias has a high success rate. They are learned and can be unlearned with the proper intervention techniques.
You do not need to live in fear.
If you would like to receive help for a phobia (and live in the areas of Halifax, Bedford, or Dartmouth) please read more about therapy and counselling, how to choose a psychologist, my treatment approach, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you would like to set up an initial consultation.
You do not need to live in fear.
If you would like to receive help for a phobia (and live in the areas of Halifax, Bedford, or Dartmouth) please read more about therapy and counselling, how to choose a psychologist, my treatment approach, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you would like to set up an initial consultation.
