Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a structured, evidence-based treatment that helps people change unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour. At Sydney Phobia Clinic, CBT is at the core of every program we offer — from fear of flying and needles to phobias about driving, animals, or enclosed spaces.
Unlike general therapy, CBT is practical and goal-focused. It’s designed to help you identify what triggers your fear, understand the thoughts and behaviours that keep it going, and learn new ways to respond.
How CBT Helps With Phobias
CBT is one of the most effective treatments for specific phobias. It works by:
Identifying fear triggers and unhelpful thinking patterns
Challenging negative thoughts and replacing them with more realistic beliefs
Introducing gradual exposure to feared situations in a safe, controlled way
Teaching coping strategies that help you stay calm and in control
At Sydney Phobia Clinic, we combine CBT with Virtual Reality (VR) exposure therapy to create immersive, targeted treatments. This lets you face your fear in a controlled environment — helping you build confidence before tackling real-world situations.
What to Expect
Most clients complete their structured CBT-based program in just five sessions. After an initial assessment, we create a tailored plan based on your phobia and goals.
You’ll learn practical tools you can use in everyday life — so you’re not just managing fear, you’re moving past it.
Common Phobias We Treat Using CBT:
Fear of flying (aviophobia)
Needle phobia / Blood-Injury-Injection phobia (BII)
Claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces)
Driving phobia
Fear of animals (dogs, birds, insects)
Vomit phobia (emetophobia)
We also regularly treat a wide range of other phobias. If it’s a specific fear that’s interfering with your life, chances are we’ve seen it before — and can help you work through it using CBT and structured exposure.
Why Choose Us?
We’ve spent over 10 years focused exclusively on treating phobias, and CBT is a key part of what makes our programs fast, effective, and real-life ready. Whether your goal is to get on a plane, drive to work, or attend a medical appointment, we use CBT to help you get there, one step at a time.
Ready to Start?
Contact us to book an assessment or find out more about how CBT could help you.
📞 (02) 8540 8739