Inspirational Title TBD
What Are Specific Phobias?
A specific phobia is an intense, overwhelming fear of a particular object, situation, or experience. The fear is often irrational, but the physical and emotional reaction is very real. Even thinking about the feared situation can trigger anxiety, panic, or avoidance.
Specific phobias are highly treatable—yet many adults quietly live around their fear for years. Our specialized phobia therapy helps you finally address the fear directly, safely, and effectively.
How Specific Phobias Develop
Phobias can begin after a frightening experience, gradually over time, or seemingly without a clear cause. Once fear takes hold, avoiding the trigger reduces anxiety in the moment—but strengthens the phobia long-term.
This cycle can cause life to shrink in ways you may not expect: avoiding bridges, elevators, travel, medical care, presentations, or everyday situations that feel unsafe.
Therapy helps break this cycle so you can live fully again.
What Makes Specialized Phobia Therapy Different?
While many forms of anxiety respond well to broad therapeutic approaches, specific phobias respond best to targeted exposure therapy—a structured, step-by-step process in which fear is retrained through safe, supported experiences.
Your therapist will work with you to:
Understand your fear response and triggers
Create a personalized exposure plan at a pace that feels manageable
Practice facing fear gradually and safely
Reduce avoidance behaviors that keep the phobia alive
Learn grounding and emotional regulation strategies
Build confidence and mastery over situations that once felt impossible
Over time, your brain relearns that the feared situation is tolerable—and your world expands again.
Common Specific Phobias We Treat
We work with adults experiencing a wide range of specific phobias, including:
Bridges or tunnels
Driving or highway fear
Flying
Elevators, escalators, or enclosed spaces
Needles, blood, or medical procedures
Animals (dogs, insects, birds, etc.)
Vomiting (emetophobia)
Heights
Public speaking or performance-related fears
Natural events (storms, wind, thunder)
This is not an exhaustive list. If you have a specific fear that restricts your daily life, we can help.
A Compassionate, Empowering Approach
Although exposure therapy is evidence-based and effective, it must be done with care. At Metro Psychotherapy & Counseling, we ensure the process is:
Collaborative: You always have control over the pace.
Supportive: You are never pushed before you feel ready.
Empowering: We focus on your strengths and your progress.
Practical: Skills and strategies can be used immediately in daily life.
Most clients experience meaningful improvement more quickly than they expected.
Begin Your Journey
A life limited by fear is not the life you deserve. With the right guidance, support, and structure, you can overcome specific phobias and regain freedom, flexibility, and confidence.
Metro Psychotherapy & Counseling offers specialized phobia therapy through in-person and telehealth sessions for adults seeking targeted, effective treatment.
Contact us today to schedule a session and take the first step toward overcoming your phobia.
