Structured Phobia Treatment Programs
At Sydney Phobia Clinic, we know that having an uncommon phobia is more common than you think. That’s why we’ve developed structured 5-session programs to target the 12 most common phobias — and we also treat less typical fears with the same proven approach.
Our treatment combines Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with cutting-edge Virtual Reality (VR) and in-situ exposure tools. Over 5–10 weeks, you’ll learn how anxiety affects the brain, gain practical tools to manage it, and practise new responses in controlled, realistic environments.
Program Overview:
5 therapy sessions over 5–10 weeks
6.5 hours of psychological therapy
Includes 2 sessions of VR or in-situ exposure
Total program cost: $1,660
Rebates & Medicare:
Eligible clients may receive a Medicare rebate of $424–$622.50 with a valid Mental Health Care Plan from a GP or psychiatrist
Partial rebates may also be available through private health insurance — check with your provider for details
While our rates are lower than the Australian Psychological Society’s recommended $238/hr, the program fee includes all additional tools and resources used throughout the course.
Phobia Program Structure
Pre-Program Assessment
A brief phone or Skype consultation with a clinical psychologist to confirm suitability and tailor the program to your needs.
Session 1: Understanding Your Phobia
Learn what’s happening in the brain during anxiety. You’ll also be introduced to simple but effective physical strategies for managing symptoms.
Session 2: Changing Unhelpful Thinking
Review your progress so far and begin learning cognitive techniques to challenge and shift fear-based thought patterns.
Session 3: Planning for Exposure
Develop your personalised exposure hierarchy and practise behavioural tools to reduce avoidance and build confidence.
Session 4: Virtual Reality Exposure
Begin controlled, immersive exposure using Virtual Reality technology — safely facing feared situations in a secure clinical setting.
Session 5: Real-World Skills Practice
In-session exposure and rehearsal of strategies to build real-life readiness and long-term resilience.
Post-Program Review
Final check-in to review progress, complete outcome measures, and discuss ongoing strategies if needed.
Phobias
Fear of Spiders (Arachnophobia)
Arachnophobia—an intense fear of spiders or other arachnids—is one of the most common specific phobias. People with a fear of spiders often go to great lengths to avoid situations where a spider might appear. This can impact everyday life in subtle but significant ways, such as avoiding laundry lines, constantly checking clothing or shoes, or feeling overwhelmed in spaces like garages, sheds, or outdoor areas. Even brief or accidental encounters with a spider can trigger a strong fear response or full-blown panic.
Fear of Animals (Animal Phobias)
Animal phobias involve a strong fear response to specific animals—commonly dogs, birds, snakes, or insects. People with this type of phobia often avoid everyday situations where they might encounter the feared animal, such as walking in the neighbourhood, visiting friends or family, or even going to the park or shops. This avoidance can limit social activities and impact quality of life. In some cases, the fear response can trigger panic or lead to risky behaviour in attempts to escape. At Sydney Phobia Clinic, we offer structured treatment for all types of animal phobias—not just the common ones.
Fear of Driving (Driving Phobia)
A fear of driving can stem from anxiety about accidents, losing control, or experiencing a panic attack behind the wheel. For some, the fear is general; for others, it’s triggered by specific scenarios—like driving on highways, in heavy traffic, over bridges, or through tunnels. This phobia can lead to avoidance of driving altogether, limiting independence and impacting work, social life, and day-to-day routines.
Fear of Heights (Acrophobia)
Acrophobia is a fear of heights or falling, often triggered by being in high places like tall buildings, bridges, balconies, or glass elevators. People with this phobia may avoid situations involving heights altogether—even if it limits travel, work opportunities, or social experiences. In some cases, the fear also overlaps with aviophobia (fear of flying). This avoidance can interfere with day-to-day life, leading to stress, frustration, or missed experiences.
Fear of Storms (Astraphobia)
Astraphobia is a fear of storms, including thunder, lightning, heavy rain, or extreme weather events. People with this phobia may avoid going outside, refuse to drive in bad weather, or even become distressed by storms while indoors. Many develop habits like obsessively checking weather forecasts or avoiding future plans due to fear of unpredictable conditions. This can interfere with daily routines, travel, and overall peace of mind. At Sydney Phobia Clinic, our structured treatment programs—combining Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Virtual Reality Exposure—are designed to help reduce weather-related anxiety and restore day-to-day confidence.
Fear of Vomiting (Emetophobia)
Emetophobia is a strong and persistent fear of vomiting—either personally or witnessing others be sick. People with this phobia often take extreme measures to avoid potential triggers, such as restricting certain foods, avoiding travel, skipping social events, or steering clear of anyone who appears unwell. This can impact physical health, relationships, and major life choices, including decisions around pregnancy. Even mild nausea or the sight of vomiting can lead to overwhelming fear or panic.
Blood-Injury-Injection (BII) Phobia
Blood-Injury-Injection phobias involve a strong fear of medical procedures involving blood, needles, or injury. This can include routine blood tests, vaccinations, dental visits, or any situation involving syringes or medical equipment. People with this phobia often go to great lengths to avoid these scenarios—sometimes delaying travel, pregnancy, or essential healthcare. In some cases, even thinking about needles can trigger anxiety, fainting, or panic.
ARFID and Food Phobias
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder characterised by extreme avoidance of certain foods—often due to fear of new tastes, textures, or choking. Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID is not driven by body image concerns and is more closely related to food phobias. People with ARFID may limit their diet to just a few ‘safe’ foods—typically bland, beige, and low in nutritional value. This can lead to health issues and make social situations involving food feel overwhelming. Celebrations, family meals, and dining out can become major sources of stress.
Fear of Enclosed Spaces (Claustrophobia)
Claustrophobia is a fear of confined or enclosed spaces—often linked to the worry of being trapped or unable to escape. People with claustrophobia may avoid lifts, small rooms, public transport, or even necessary medical procedures like MRIs or CT scans. These avoidance behaviours can disrupt daily routines, affect work or relationships, and lead to significant stress. The fear may be triggered by the space itself or the anticipation of feeling stuck.
Fear of Flying (Aviophobia)
A fear of flying—known as aviophobia—can significantly disrupt both personal and professional life, especially as air travel becomes more routine. People with this phobia may avoid holidays, family events, or business trips, often choosing lengthy alternatives or cancelling plans altogether. The fear is sometimes linked to other phobias, such as claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces) or acrophobia (fear of heights). At Sydney Phobia Clinic, we offer a targeted treatment program in partnership with Flight Experience Sydney, combining Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and pilot-led education—proven to help people overcome aviophobia, often in just a few weeks.
Fear of Public Speaking (Public Speaking Anxiety)
Public speaking anxiety can interfere with performance in meetings, presentations, or any situation requiring formal communication. People with this fear often avoid speaking up at work, turning down opportunities to present, or experiencing overwhelming anxiety before they do—sometimes at the cost of career progression. At Sydney Phobia Clinic, we offer one-on-one public speaking programs based on our structured 5-session model, combining Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and exposure techniques. For corporate teams, we also deliver tailored workshops—typically in a 3-hour format—designed to build speaking confidence and reduce anxiety in professional settings.
Sports Phobias and ‘Choking’ Under Pressure
In sport, ‘choking’ refers to a sudden drop in performance during high-pressure moments—often caused by anxiety or overthinking. This type of performance anxiety typically affects closed-skill actions like putting, serving, pitching, or kicking. After one difficult episode, athletes may begin to fear it happening again, leading to avoidance, loss of confidence, and mounting anxiety. In some cases, they may even consider quitting their sport altogether.
Bring Phobia Treatment to Your Workplace
Interested in offering phobia treatment or practical CBT skills at your workplace?
Our programmes are built to counter the powerful effects of fear-based learning, helping individuals unlearn long-held anxiety responses and build lasting resilience.
Whether your team would benefit from general anxiety-management tools or targeted support around specific issues like fear of flying or public speaking, we can tailor a program to meet your needs.
Get in touch to explore how we can help your employees feel more confident, capable, and in control.
Payment Policy
If you have any questions about our services, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
All psychology services are provided and billed by Sydney Phobia Clinic. A cancellation fee applies for changes or cancellations made within 48 hours of your scheduled appointment. These must be submitted in writing.
Medicare rebates may be available under a Mental Health Care Plan arranged with your GP.
For private health insurance, please note that out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles or co-payments may apply depending on your policy.
Helplines
Sydney Phobia Clinic is not a crisis service. If you need urgent support, please contact one of the following 24/7 services:
Lifeline — 13 11 14
Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636
Kids Helpline — 1800 55 1800
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