Frequently Asked Questions
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Specific phobias are more than just strong dislikes or temporary fears—they’re intense, persistent, and often debilitating fears of particular objects, situations, or activities. These fears are disproportionate to the actual level of danger and are typically accompanied by a distinct set of physiological and emotional responses, such as rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, or panic.
People with a phobia will often go to great lengths to avoid the feared situation altogether, or if forced to face it, will endure it with extreme anxiety and distress. This pattern of avoidance reinforces the fear over time, making the phobia more entrenched.
Phobias can develop in childhood or adulthood, and may be triggered by a specific event, a gradual build-up of anxiety, or even indirectly through observation or media exposure. Once established, they rarely resolve on their own—they typically require a structured, evidence-based approach like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy to achieve lasting change.
At Sydney Phobia Clinic, we focus exclusively on treating these kinds of fears—whether it’s a fear of flying, driving, animals, storms, needles, or something more personal—so you can move forward with confidence.
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Phobias are most effectively treated using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)—a structured, evidence-based approach that focuses on changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours. CBT is widely recognised as the gold standard treatment for phobias and anxiety-related conditions.
At Sydney Phobia Clinic, treatment begins with a thorough assessment to understand your specific fear, how it developed, and how it affects your daily life. From there, we develop a tailored plan that typically includes:
Psychoeducation – Helping you understand how phobias work and why your brain responds the way it does
Cognitive strategies – Learning to recognise and challenge unhelpful thoughts that reinforce the fear
Exposure therapy – Gradually and safely confronting feared situations, often using Virtual Reality or real-world scenarios, so you can build confidence and reduce avoidance over time
Skills training – Practising techniques such as breathing exercises, relaxation, or assertiveness to manage anxiety in-the-moment
Relapse prevention – Equipping you with tools to stay on track and prevent setbacks once therapy ends
CBT is goal-focused and time-efficient, often requiring just five to eight sessions to see significant improvements. With the right tools and support, it’s entirely possible to overcome even long-standing phobias and reclaim the freedom to live on your terms.
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A core element of phobia treatment is Exposure Therapy—a method where individuals gradually face their feared situations in order to reduce anxiety over time. Traditionally, this involves real-world (or “in vivo”) exposure. But in many cases—such as a fear of flying, needles, animals, dentists, or medical procedures like MRIs—realistic and gradual exposure can be hard to achieve due to cost, safety, logistics, or risk of avoidance.
That’s where Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) comes in. Using advanced VR technology, we can simulate feared scenarios in a safe, controlled, and repeatable environment, right here in the clinic. You can practise coping strategies and desensitise your response to anxiety triggers—without leaving the room.
Unlike real-world exposure, VR therapy gives you:
Gradual and customisable exposure – move through a hierarchy of fears at your own pace
High-quality repetition – practise multiple times without needing to recreate complex environments
Increased safety and comfort – all within a secure clinical setting
Greater accessibility – especially for hard-to-reach or high-risk scenarios
At Sydney Phobia Clinic, we don’t use off-the-shelf programs—we develop our own VR therapy experiences based on the latest psychological research and clinical best practice. This means you get a fully tailored treatment plan, combining science-backed methods with cutting-edge tools.
VR therapy doesn’t just make treatment more practical—it makes it more effective. For the first time, you’re in control, progressing step by step, until fear no longer runs the show.
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Yes—phobia treatment using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Therapy is backed by decades of clinical research. These approaches are widely regarded as the most effective treatments for specific phobias, with consistently strong outcomes across a wide range of fears.
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) builds on this proven foundation by using immersive, computer-generated environments to conduct the exposure component of therapy. Instead of needing real-world access to feared scenarios (like planes, needles, dogs, or enclosed spaces), VR allows clients to safely practise facing their fears in a controlled, repeatable way.
And the evidence supports it.
Multiple studies have shown that VRET is just as effective as in vivo (real-life) exposure for treating anxiety and phobias. Research also shows that the benefits of VR therapy transfer to real-life situations, meaning that the progress made in a headset translates into greater confidence and reduced anxiety in everyday life.
📚 Key research findings:
VRET is as effective as traditional exposure therapy for anxiety and phobias
VRET gains translate well to real-life situations
– Morina et al. (2015), Behaviour Research and Therapy, 74, 18–24
At Sydney Phobia Clinic, we combine VRET with structured CBT and personalised support to ensure each client gets the best of both worlds: evidence-based therapy and cutting-edge tools that are practical, effective, and fast.
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Our standard 5-session phobia treatment program costs $1,660 in total. Many clients are eligible for a Medicare rebate of up to $622.50, provided you have a valid referral and Mental Health Care Plan from your GP.
Fee Breakdown:
Standard sessions are billed at $220 per hour, which is below the Australian Psychological Society’s recommended rate of $238/hour.
No GST is charged on psychology services.
Optional extras, such as Virtual Reality sessions or In-Situ (real-world) exposure, are billed at $115 per session in addition to your psychologist’s fee.
We’ll always explain your options clearly before starting, so there are no hidden costs—just evidence-based treatment designed to get results, fast.
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Yes—Medicare rebates are available if you have a valid Mental Health Care Plan and referral from your GP.
For our 5-session phobia treatment programs, the total rebate typically ranges from $420 to $622.50, depending on session length and the specific psychologist you see.
To access rebates:
Visit your GP and request a Mental Health Care Plan
Bring the referral with you to your first appointment
We’ll process the Medicare rebate for each eligible session
This means you could save up to 37% of the total cost of your treatment.
If you’re unsure how to get started, we’re happy to walk you through the process.
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Our standard phobia treatment program includes 5 structured sessions, each lasting between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on the stage of treatment and your specific goals.
Throughout the program, you’ll:
Learn practical tools for managing anxiety, interrupting unhelpful behaviour patterns, and challenging fearful thoughts
Practise coping strategies such as breathing techniques, graded exposure, and thought-challenging exercises
Work through your personalised treatment plan, developed in collaboration with your psychologist
Sessions may involve a combination of:
Face-to-face therapy for education and strategy development
Virtual Reality or real-world exposure exercises, depending on your goals
Skills-based practice to help you build confidence in confronting your fears
To get the most from the program, you’ll be encouraged to practise between sessions—this might include short daily tasks, journaling, or reviewing techniques. Consistent practice is key to achieving meaningful and lasting change.
Our team will guide you every step of the way, so you always know what to expect and how to make progress.
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No—we’re not in the business of shock therapy.
At Sydney Phobia Clinic, our approach is gradual, safe, and guided by evidence. Exposure is always tailored to your specific goals and comfort level. If you’re working on a fear of spiders, for example, we might start with photos or virtual reality scenes before moving to more realistic situations—and no, that does not include being locked in a room full of them.
The goal isn’t to overwhelm you—it’s to help you build confidence through manageable, step-by-step progress. You’re always in control of the pace.
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Yes—in many cases, we can help. Social anxiety can present in different ways, and the right approach depends on how it’s showing up in your life.
If your anxiety is focused on specific social or performance situations—like public speaking, job interviews, or being the centre of attention—we offer a structured program designed to help you manage these challenges confidently.
If your symptoms are more generalised (e.g. fear across most or all social situations), we may recommend a more tailored, individualised treatment plan based on a comprehensive diagnostic assessment.
You don’t need to figure it all out on your own. We offer a free brief assessment to help determine whether one of our programs is right for you—or whether another pathway may be more suitable. Either way, we’re happy to guide you toward the right support.
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Yes—we don’t just treat phobias. Our clinic also supports clients with a range of anxiety-related and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, including:
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Panic Disorder
Health Anxiety
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours (like hair pulling or skin picking)
All treatment is grounded in evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). We also integrate Virtual Reality (VR) therapy where appropriate, to enhance exposure work and improve accessibility.
For more complex or OCD-specific concerns, we work closely with our sister clinic—Sydney OCD Clinic—which offers focused, specialised support for obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.
Every treatment plan begins with a comprehensive diagnostic assessment, so we can understand your individual needs and tailor the most effective path forward.
If you’re unsure where to start, just reach out—we’re happy to help guide you in the right direction.
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Yes—our programs are open to anyone who feels they may benefit from structured phobia or anxiety treatment. While they’re designed to address specific fears, they’re delivered in a practical, course-like format, making them accessible to a wide range of people.
Before starting, we’ll complete a brief phone assessment to understand your needs. During this call, we’ll let you know whether we believe one of our programs is likely to be helpful—and you’re always free to decide whether or not to proceed.
Whether you’re seeking support for a long-standing fear or just want to feel more in control, we’re here to help you take the next step with confidence.
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Our structured programs are designed specifically for specific phobias—intense, focused fears of particular objects or situations (like flying, driving, animals, needles, storms, etc.).
If your fear is less common, we may still be able to help. Our team can often adapt an existing program or design a custom plan that targets your specific fear, provided it falls within the scope of a specific phobia.
If your concerns involve other mental health issues, such as trauma, generalised anxiety, or mood disorders, we may recommend a more individualised treatment plan—or refer you to a trusted provider who’s better suited to your needs.
Either way, the first step is a brief assessment, so we can understand what’s going on and recommend the most appropriate path forward.
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We welcome opportunities to collaborate with like-minded professionals and organisations.
We work with:
GPs and referrers who want a trusted option for clients with phobia-related concerns
Health clinics and mental health providers looking to expand access to evidence-based treatment
Institutions and organisations interested in bespoke Virtual Reality experiences, staff training, or consultation around fear- and anxiety-related presentations
We also have a sister service, Sydney OCD Clinic, for broader anxiety and obsessive-compulsive presentations.
If you’re interested in partnering with us—whether through client referrals, professional training, or customised VR development—get in touch to discuss how we can work together.
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The easiest way to get in touch is through our online contact form or by emailing us directly. You can also call us if you’d prefer to speak with someone.
Visit our Contact Page to:
Submit a general enquiry
Request a free brief phone assessment
Ask about availability, referrals, or next steps
All communication is handled with care and confidentiality.
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Our Phobias in Focus blog is a great place to start. It’s filled with clear, practical insights into the psychology of fear.
We’re continuing to add new helpful content.