Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Search

Refine search

Refine search

Access:
Content type:
Publication date:
Apply   From and To filters
Subject: Show more
Journals Show more
Publishers: Show more
Societies Show more
Series: Show more
Collections: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

1 results

  • 3 - CBT for Specific Phobias

  • from Part One - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety Disorders
  • Edited by Gillian Todd, University of East Anglia, Rhena Branch, University of East Anglia
  • Book:
    Evidence-Based Treatment for Anxiety Disorders and Depression
    Published online:
    06 January 2022
    Print publication:
    13 January 2022, pp 29-49

  • Summary

    Although fear can protect us from harm and prepare us for danger, disproportionately extreme fear can turn into a specific phobia when it leads to extreme avoidance of and distress in feared situations, thereby interfering with our lives and mental well-being. This chapter gives instructions and examples of how an assessment and mini formulation for specific phobias can help to construct a ‘fear hierarchy’ and to understand which ‘safety behaviors’ can maintain phobias. With case illustrations, the chapter describes how to apply exposure therapy, the cornerstone CBT method for specific phobias, in which an individual gradually confronts each trigger in the fear hierarchy while refraining from safety behaviors. The chapter also outlines how to overcome common difficulties with exposure therapy and how to measure therapy outcomes. Finally, cognitive restructuring is discussed as a CBT approach for specific phobias in which exposure-based activities are used to test and challenge exaggerated or unhelpful ideas about feared situations.