Over my 45 years of working with clients I have treated a variety of fears and phobias: public speaking, flying, test taking, heights, thunderstorms, darkness , animals, insects and crowds. One of the most useful methods I use is “systematic desensitization”.
Originally developed by Dr. Joseph Wolpe in the 1950’s, it seeks to “counter condition the fear response with the relaxation response”. The process involves creating an anxiety ladder from situations that bother the person from least to most. Next, clients are taught how to relax their body by systematically squeezing, holding and slowly releasing the tense muscles. This produces a deep state of relaxation. While in the relaxed state, they are asked to imagine the least anxiety provoking situation and hold it in their mind. If they feel anxious, they stop imagining the scene and re-engage in the relaxation response until they are calm again. They then re-imagine the upsetting scene. This process is continued until imagining the scene no longer triggers an anxiety response. Once the person can successfully imagine the entire sequence without feeling any substantial anxiety, they are ready to practice a “graduated exposure” to the situations and if anxious, apply the same relaxation response. At that point the phobia has been significantly “desensitized” and the person can more easily apply the same skills they practiced in imagery into their “real life” conditions.
In clinical practice, I often incorporate the Cognitive Behavior Therapy strategy of challenging any associated fearful thoughts and replacing them with healthier more desirable ones.
The treatment of most phobias are straight forward with a significant number of clients being able to drive their cars again, speak in public, fly on airplanes, be comfortable around dogs and dozens of other common fears so many have avoided.
Help is available virtually for those anywhere in the states of Florida or Massachusetts.
For additional information on the treatment of fears and phobias using Cognitive Behavior Therapy, contact Dr. Robert Heller at www.cognitivebehaviortherapyfl.com, e-mail drrobertheller@gmail.com or call 561 251-9768.
