A woman looking out an airport window at a plane

Therapy

Therapy for Phobias, Including Fear of Flying

A fear of flying, driving, needles, storms or dogs can quietly shape where you travel, which jobs you take and which appointments you skip. Specific fears respond well to focused treatment.

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What makes a fear a phobia

Many people dislike flying or get nervous before a shot. A phobia is a fear strong enough that you plan around it: driving twelve hours to avoid a flight, skipping medical care because of needles, or staying home when storms are forecast.

Fears people bring to us

Flying
Driving on freeways or over bridges
Needles, blood draws and medical procedures
Storms and severe weather
Dogs, insects or other animals
Heights, elevators and enclosed spaces
Vomiting

Why gradual exposure works

Avoidance keeps a fear frozen at full strength. When you approach the feared thing in small, planned steps and stay long enough for the alarm to settle, your brain updates its prediction. Exposure is done with you, not to you, and you agree to every step.

A typical plan

1.
Understand the fear
Talk through what you expect to happen and what you avoid.
2.
Build a ladder
List steps from mildly uncomfortable to hardest.
3.
Practice
Work up the ladder in session and between sessions, starting with pictures, videos or imagining.
4.
Real-world steps
Take the practice into the airport, the freeway or the clinic.

A young woman on a park bench breathing slowly with a hand on her chest

Preparing for a trip

If you have a flight coming up, tell us the date when you book. Your therapist can prioritize the steps that matter most, such as booking, the drive to the airport, security, the gate and takeoff, and help you plan coping for the flight itself.

Options alongside therapy

Some adults also use hypnosis for relaxation, and some talk with a prescriber about short-term options for travel. Ask your therapist how those would fit with your plan.

Fears that started after something happened

Some fears begin after a turbulent flight, a car accident or a frightening medical procedure. If the fear came from a real event and you also have nightmares, flashbacks or feel on edge much of the time, tell your therapist. Treatment may also address the experience itself, not only the fear.