Therapy & Counseling
Phobia Therapy in the South Bay
A phobia is an intense, persistent fear of a specific thing or situation, strong enough that you rearrange your life to avoid it. Phobia therapy helps your nervous system relearn that the feared thing is safe, so the fear, and the avoidance, fall away. Specific phobias are among the most treatable of all anxiety problems.
- Licensed clinicians
- In person and virtual
- Free 15-minute consultation
- Accepting new clients
We see clients in person at our Hermosa Beach office and virtually across California.
Specific phobias affect an estimated 9% of U.S. adults in a given year (National Institute of Mental Health), making them one of the most common anxiety conditions, and one of the most responsive to treatment.
Source: National Institute of Mental Health.
Common phobias we treat
- Flying, driving, bridges, or tunnels
- Heights, enclosed spaces, or open spaces
- Needles, blood, or medical and dental procedures
- Animals, insects, or specific situations
- Vomiting, choking, or illness-related fears
Our approach
We use gradual exposure, the gold-standard approach for phobias, moving one manageable step at a time so you are never overwhelmed. It is part of your wider anxiety care and individual therapy.
As Jack Foley, LMFT, puts it:
"Phobias shrink in the face of gradual, supported exposure. People are often surprised that the thing they avoided for years can ease in a matter of weeks."
What to expect
Care begins with a free 15-minute consultation. From there we match you thoughtfully and build a step-by-step plan at a pace you control.
Where we are
One South Bay office.
All of California.
Our office is in the heart of the South Bay. Warm, private, and a world away from the clinical waiting room. For clients throughout California who can't make it in, we deliver the same uncompromising standard of care virtually.
2200 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ste 308, Hermosa Beach · Telehealth statewide
How it works
Starting is simple.
Book a free consultation
A confidential 15-minute call to understand what you need.
Get matched
We pair you with the right clinician for your goals.
Begin care
Start in person or online, at a pace that feels right.
Questions
Frequently asked
What is a phobia?
A phobia is an intense, persistent fear of a specific object or situation, flying, heights, needles, driving, animals, that is out of proportion to the actual danger and leads to avoidance. It is common and very treatable.
What is the best treatment for phobias?
Gradual exposure therapy, a form of CBT, is the most effective treatment. Working step by step, your nervous system learns the feared thing is safe, and the fear fades.
How long does it take to treat a phobia?
Specific phobias are often among the faster anxiety issues to treat. Many people see significant improvement in a relatively short, focused course of work.
What if my phobia is about needles or medical procedures?
Very common, and treatable. We use approaches tailored to medical and blood-injection-injury phobias, which can otherwise get in the way of important healthcare.
Do you offer phobia therapy online?
Yes, in person in the South Bay and via telehealth across California.
When you're ready, a conversation is the place to begin.
Book a complimentary 15-minute consultation, confidential, and without obligation.
Book a free consultation