Phobia Therapy & Counselling

Everyone is afraid of something in their lives, but when your fears are focused on something specific which triggers excessive levels of panic or anxiety, you might be suffering from a phobia.

Counselling techniques, including cognitive behavioural therapy and integrative psychotherapy, can be very effective in helping people allay these excessive fears and overcome their phobia.

Phobia Therapy & Counselling London

What is a Phobia?

A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that involves an irrational or excessive fear of something or someone. Typically an object, situation, animal or place tends to be the trigger of a phobia. Approximately 10 million people in the UK are affected by a phobia.

Phobias go beyond simple fears in the sense that they can take over your life and prompt you to go well out of your way to avoid the object of your fear. People who have a phobia are often bombarded with intense anxiety at the mere thought of encountering the object of their fear or even seeing a picture of it. This fear can contribute to symptoms of panic, anxiety and depression.

Many people try to cope by avoiding the phobia trigger. However, it can be difficult to live a normal life when you are actively trying to avoid the things that you fear, especially when it is something that is not easily avoided such as a public place or enclosed space.

What are the Symptoms of Phobia?

When you have a phobia you might feel stress or panic when faced with the situation itself or you may live in constant fear of encountering whatever triggers your fear. For some people, it can become exhausting trying to find ways to avoid the trigger and your relationships with other people may be impacted negatively as a result. You might also have trouble concentrating or sleeping, as worries take over your mind. Some of the following physiological symptoms can arise when faced with a phobia:

  • Sweating
  • Cold flashes
  • Trembling or shaking
  • Chest tightness or pain
  • Rapid heartbeat or palpitations
  • Numbness
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Light-headedness

Benefits of Phobia Counselling

People who have a phobia do not have to live their life in fear. Counselling can help you confront your phobias head-on and, in many cases, it can also help you to overcome the phobia completely. During and following a course of successful counselling for phobias, you can expect to experience some of the following outcomes:

  • Uncover the root cause of your phobia and discover ways to overcome the extreme and irrational fears which are triggered from this source.
  • Learn how feelings, thoughts and behaviours can contribute to your fears and how to turn this around so you can feel less fearful and more in control.
  • Learn relaxation techniques that help soothe and remove panic or anxiety when faced with a fearful situation.
  • Build a deeper self-understanding and stronger self-confidence so you worry a lot less and enjoy life much more.

Therapy Reviews

Empower Yourself – Building Self Confidence
Before meeting with Maggie, I had been feeling demotivated, lacking focus and very lonely…. Counselling was something I only considered when I felt there was nothing I could do. Retrospectively, this was incorrect. Maggie gave me support and provided me with the encouragement to empower myself to change. I had always found it hard to deal with questions, getting defensive. Maggie’s questions…helped me… I now realise… Read More
Investment Banker
Discovering Enjoyable Career Success & Creating Loving Relationships
When I came to see Maggie I was very depressed, but also very cynical about the benefits of seeing a therapist… I was working as a sales director… which I thought was what I wanted, but I had very little confidence in my abilities… I also had very bad relationships… Maggie has helped me to understand why… and…to turn things around so that I am so much happier now than I have been in many, many, years and… Read More
Ex Sales Director
Ensuring You Get the Right Therapist
The following feedback is from a client who we provided with a therapist re-match: Just wanted to say, amazing pick with Kate. Very happy with the switch. I am loving my therapy and making progress already after 3 sessions. Read More
Entrepreneur, London
Overcoming Anxiety & Work Stress – Improving Career & Relationships
After a number of false starts with therapists, I can only say that I wish I had found Maggie sooner!… Over a period of 15 years I had seen multiple therapists and psychiatrists to address issues relating to anxiety, depression and workplace stress…. Maggie really helped me to elucidate and articulate the origins of deeply embedded patterns of negative and self defeating thinking, which proved essential… Read More
Dan, Civil Servant
Empower Yourself – Overcome Trauma & Build Self-Esteem
I came to Judy struggling to understand the impact sexual abuse that had taken place in my childhood had had on me. I knew there were things… weaving their way into how I formed relationships and the way I have behaved since I was a teenager, but I didn’t know what they were or how to deal with them. The hours I’ve spent working with Judy have been the most…liberating and empowering experience and I’ve learnt… Read More
Magazine Editor, London
Overcome ME/CFS Long Covid & Build Confidence
…Thank you to KlearMinds for taking such care in matching me with the right therapist…. I started sessions when I was very unwell with Long Covid/ ME/CFS… Amanda was a huge part of my recovery… I’ve got my life back. I’ve just been for a run, am a Mum to my boys again and am loving life. The connection between my mental health and physical health were much more entwined than I had realised. Amanda helped me to… Read More
Jenny, Occupational Therapist from North England.
Flexible therapy that worked best for me
Had a very positive experience working with Kate and KlearMinds. Kate was very easy to talk to and gave me space to do sessions in the way that worked best for me and I came out of them feeling refreshed and motivated. I would definitely recommend Kate…. she was kind, thoughtful and always reliable, even when I was a bit awkward about finding times that suited my schedule. Read More
Professional, IT Sector
Career Coaching & Finding Loving Relationship
I started to see Maggie as a work coach… I was frustrated with my job… working myself into the ground… not getting any returns… I’m now in a job I love, and have just been promoted! I’m now much more confident… with who I am…. in a great relationship for almost two years now… I’ve recommended her to numerous friends since and I know she’s helped them massively too… She helped me realise…. Read More
Managing Director
Control Anxiety – Depression – Improve Relationships – Career Coaching
…therapy with Judy… has changed my life forever. I suffered daily from anxiety and.. negative thought[s].. holding me back..in my relationships… during lockdown..i was put at risk of redundancy.. I saw 3 different therapists before this, none of which really understood and helped me… Judy helped me understand things… control my anxiety… get back on track… I was blown away with her….Read More
Events Producer
Build Self-Confidence and Overcome Relationship Problems
….I had tried counselling before and thought it wasn’t for me. I now realise that finding the right counsellor makes all the difference. I went to see Maggie when I felt I was no longer able to cope and everything in my life was going wrong…. I cannot recommend Maggie enough. I feel in control, grounded and confident… capable of moving forward in my life. My sessions with her have not only helped me gain…. Read More
A very grateful Lawyer!
Overcoming Trauma, Depression, Parenting problems, Career Issues
I have seen Maggie for a short batch of sessions, on 4 occasions… I’ve needed help with…post-natal depression…childhood trauma…career…work/life balance…parenting struggles… the services she provides, have been absolutely transformational… Without fail, each time, Maggie has..quickly distilled..the root..issue..and given me highly..actionable..advice..I can…use..long past attending one to one sessions…. Read More
COO, London
Help With Bereavement & Depression
I was coping with a major bereavement and it felt like a crisis… Straight away Maggie was warm, kind and understanding… I didn’t want to be in therapy for a long time, I just wanted to get better, get on with my life… I cannot recommend Maggie highly enough to you. Whilst life still presents me with challenges I can cope with them as I feel so much stronger now… over six weeks… after each session I’d… Read More
TV Director, London
Overcoming Career Anxiety & Work Stress
I had never thought I was someone who would need counselling or therapy, as I had always been very strong. However when my career wasn’t going quite as I had planned it, I found I was becoming very negative and mentally spiralling out of control – in fact turning myself into a victim. Maggie was outstanding at providing me with what I needed, not as a “quick fix” but by giving me the tools to use whenever I may need… Read More
Corporate Finance Lawyer

Meet Our Experienced Therapists

Amanda Reynolds - Psychotherapist & Counsellor London
Amanda is a highly experienced Advanced CBT and Integrative therapist with more than 8 years experience. She draws upon a wide range of therapies and works proactively to help clients understand, process and resolve their concerns and conflicts. Amanda can assist you to quickly identify problematic thoughts and behaviours which negatively impact your personal and professional well-being.
Meet our Team
Judy Harrison - Psychotherapist and Couples Therapist London
Judy holds over 25 years experience as a psychotherapist, with individuals and couples. She utilizes a wide range of therapies, including CBT and psychoeducation and has considerable experience in Career Coaching, Mindfulness Meditation and Mediation. Judy works proactively with clients to help them understand and address problematic situations and experiences and develop positive skills they can draw upon for life.
Meet our Team
Karen Gubb - Clinical Psychologist London.webp
Karen is a highly experienced psychologist, executive and career coach with over 15 years experience. Karen draws upon a variety of therapies and coaching skills, tailoring her approach, to best suit the learning style of each client. Karen works proactively. She can help you understand and constructively change problematic thoughts and patterns of behaviour so you can realise your personal goals.
Meet our Team
Kate Thomlinson - Psychotherapist & Counsellor London
Kate is a highly skilled therapist. She has worked successfully in a variety of settings, including media, TV, journalism, law and higher education. She draws upon a broad range of therapeutic skills including existential, CBT, mindfulness and psychoeducation to enable clients to achieve the outcomes they want, in terms of professional and personal satisfaction and wellbeing.
Meet our Team
Maggie Morrow Award Winning Therapist

Maggie Morrow is an award winning psychotherapist, an accomplished life coach and counsellor, and Director of KlearMinds. In 2007 she was awarded the BACP National Award for advancing the quality of therapy service provision to the highest standards in the UK.
Maggie’s experience spans over 20 years helping people overcome problems so they can enjoy more fulfilling and satisfying lives.

 

Meet our Team
Paul Glynn - Psychotherapist & Counsellor London
Paul Glynn holds over 30 years experience as a therapist and is KlearMinds Clinical Director. Paul offers a warm, pragmatic and interactive approach to help you understand and go beyond the difficulties you are facing. He is passionate about empowering clients to develop the tools that can help them to resolve stuckness and positively change repetitive, problematic behaviours.
Meet our Team
Tania Turner Counsellor and Couples Therapist in London
Tania is an experienced psychotherapist and couples counsellor. She is highly skilled in helping couples and individuals address a wide range of concerns. She has a warm, collaborative, insightful approach and uses a range of therapies including psychodynamic and mindfulness, to enable her clients to understand and resolve issues constructively.
Meet our Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Most Common Phobias?
There are literally hundreds of different types of phobia that affect people’s lives from day to day. A few of the most common phobias are listed below:
  • Fear of Flying – Pteromerhanophobia
  • Fear of Heights – Acrophobia
  • Fear of Dogs – Cynophobia
  • Fear of Social Situations – Social Phobia
  • Fear of Crowded or Open Spaces – Agoraphobia
  • Fear of Spiders – Arachnophobia
  • Fear of Heights – Acrophobia
  • Fear of Thunder and Lightening – Astraphobia
  • Fear of Germs or Dirt – Mysophobia
  • Fear of Injections – Trypanophobia
  • Fear of Failure – Atychiphobia
  • Fear of Committment – Gamophobia
  • Fear of Abandonment – Autophobia
  • Fear of Death – Thanatophobia
Which therapies can help with phobias?
Maggie Award Winning Therapist

Not Sure Which Therapist Or Type Of Therapy You Need?

Get in touch with Maggie Morrow, Award Winning Therapist & KlearMinds Director. Maggie can help match you with the right therapist based on your needs.

Get in Touch Today
Private Therapy Rooms in London
Online Counselling Available.

Take the First Step Towards Overcoming Your Phobias Today

Have you had enough of feeling held back by phobias? Do you feel ready to change your life for the better? A KlearMinds phobia therapist can help you regain control. Why not contact us today and take the first step to improve your life.

Information & Self-Help Tips for Phobias

How CBT Therapy Can Help Treat Phobias

17th May 2015

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11th July 2018

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5th March 2022

Having trouble controlling your negative thoughts?  Feeling anxious or depressed and wish you could switch off those thoughts? Sometimes, it’s…

What are you afraid of?

4th April 2017

Everyone is afraid of something, but when your fear is so specific that it triggers excessive levels of anxiety or…

Maggie Morrow Award Winning Therapist
Author: Maggie Morrow, Award Winning Psychotherapist, Counsellor & Life Coach
Last updated: 16th May 2023

Our London Therapy Locations

We help people across London and have therapy rooms in Central London & London City.

Quality Standards

Our hand-selected therapists have trained in the UK’s most respected counselling institutions. They hold a minimum of 8 and up to 30 years clinical experience within the NHS, private and/or charitable sectors in and around London. They are registered with: