Specializing in the Treatment of OCD, Phobias, and Related Conditions

The primary distinguishing feature of a phobia is the recurrent, irrational fear of a specific object or situation. Exposure to the feared object or situation results in an immediate and intense level of anxiety, sometimes to the extent of having a panic attack. Despite recognizing that this anxiety is excessive, an individual with a phobia will go to great lengths to avoid exposure to the feared object or situation in order to prevent the emotional distress it causes. This anxiety and its associated avoidance behaviors cause significant emotional distress, and may considerably interfere with daily functioning and interpersonal relationships.

Common Phobias

While some do not consider phobias to be true OC Spectrum Disorders, they do have obsessive-compulsive features that are quite similar to OCD. Phobias and OCD are both categorized as anxiety disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) published by the American Psychiatric Association. Also, phobias and OCD both involve intense, irrational fears and repeated avoidance of anxiety-provoking objects and/or situations. Furthermore, recent studies indicate that 7% of those with OCD also have one or more phobias. In fact, a phobia may sometimes evolve into OCD, or vice-versa. Perhaps the most significant similarity linking phobias and OCD is the cyclical process by which the symptoms of both increase. To learn more about this process, click here.

Treatment of Phobias

Because of these many similarities, the same Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques that are so effective in treating OCD are also employed in the treatment of phobias. The primary CBT technique used in treating phobias is a variant of the Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) technique used in the treatment of OCD. Another CBT technique that is extremely valuable is called "Cognitive Restructuring". To learn more about Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for the treatment of phobias, click here.

Additionally, a variant of ERP has been developed that has also been found to be helpful for the treatment of phobias. This method, sometimes called "imaginal exposure," involves using short stories based on the client's phobia. These stories are audiotaped and then used as ERP tools, allowing the client to experience exposure to feared situations that cannot be experienced through traditional ERP (e.g., being attacked by birds, being struck by lightning, drowning). When combined with standard ERP and other CBT techniques such as Cognitive Restructuring, this type of imaginal exposure can greatly reduce the frequency and magnitude of intrusive phobic obsessions, as well as the individual's sensitivity to the specific object or situationthey fear.

One of the most effective CBT developments for the treatment of phobias is Mindfulness-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. The primary goal of Mindfulness-Based CBT is to learn to non-judgmentally accept uncomfortable psychological experiences. From a mindfulness perspective, much of our psychological distress is the result of trying to control and eliminate the discomfort of unwanted thoughts, feelings, sensations, and urges. In other words, our discomfort is not the problem – our attempt to control and eliminate our discomfort is the problem. For an individual with a phobia, the ultimate goal of mindfulness is to develop the ability to more willingly experience their uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, sensations, and urges, without responding with avoidance behaviors, reassurance seeking, and/or mental rituals.

As part of our treatment program, the OCD Center of Los Angeles offers the option of home visits for our clients who have difficulty with phobias in or around their residence. We also provide clients the opportunity to have therapy sessions in the field to address specific phobias such as those listed above.

Group Therapy For the Treatment of Phobias

In addition to individual therapy, the OCD Center of Los Angeles also offers six weekly, low-fee, therapy/support groups for adults with OCD, phobias, and related conditions. These groups are led by our staff therapists, and use the same treatment protocol as our individual Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy program. To learn more about our weekly groups for adults with OCD, phobias, and related conditions, click here.

We also offer four, age-specific, therapy/support groups for children and adolescents with OCD, phobias, and related anxiety conditions. These groups are held monthly, and are limited to six participants. To learn more about our therapy/support groups for children and adolescents with OCD, phobias, and related conditions, click here.

If you are experiencing any phobias, and would like to discuss individual or group therapy for the treatment of phobias at the OCD Center of Los Angeles, you can call us at (310) 335-5443, or click here to email us. If you live outside Southern California, we recommend that you contact a licensed Cognitive-Behavioral therapist in your local area.