Specific Phobia Disorder Treatment Specific Phobia Disorder is ...

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Specific Phobia Disorder Treatment
Specific Phobia Disorder is marked by a “persistent fear of clearly discernible,
circumscribed objects or situations” that almost always “provoke an immediate anxiety
response (DSM-IV-TR, 2000).” Various psychological therapies have been developed to
treat mental disorders such as Specific Phobia Disorder; psychoanalytical, humanistic,
systematic desensitization, and cognitive-behavioral therapies are all examples.
Psychoanalytical therapy was developed by Sigmund Freud and is focused upon
past repressed feelings and memories (Meyers, 2004). To a psychoanalyst a phobia
stems directly from a repressed childhood experience that unconsciously manifests itself
as a disorder. In therapy a psychoanalyst and a patient try to uncover the underlying
repressions causing the phobia (Meyers, 2004). Once the patient fully comprehends the
repressed feelings the phobia will cease.
Humanistic therapy takes the opposite viewpoint of psychoanalytical therapy in
that instead of focusing on passed repressed experiences humanistic therapy shifts the
focus of treatment onto conscious and current thoughts and actions. “The humanistic
perspective” also “emphasizes people’s inherent potential for self-fulfillment (Meyers,
2004).” In this context the humanistic therapist would help a client overcome a phobic
disorder by assisting them in understanding their fear and eventually overcoming that
fear.
Systematic desensitization is a specific technique derived from
counterconditioning therapy. This treatment assumes that one can not be “simultaneously
anxious and relaxed at the same time (Meyers, 2004).” Behavioral therapists, practicing
this technique, will first teach a phobic disorder sufferer relaxation techniques. The
Chase A. Hurst
October 6, 2004
CHurst5841@gmail.com

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therapist than introduces gradual levels of the specific phobia (i.e. insects) to the client.
For instance therapy may begin with a fake plastic insect being shown to the client. As
treatment progresses more realistic insects would be shown to the patient until eventually
the client becomes desensitized to insects. Systematic desensitization is a gradual
process.
Another method to treat specific phobia disorder is cognitive-behavioral therapy.
This therapy combines both cognitive and behavioral therapies. It attempts to change
both the thoughts and behaviors associated with mental illness. Phobic disorder would be
treated simultaneously in both areas. Cognitive therapy tries to change the negative
thoughts associated with mental disorders into more positive thoughts. The combination
of cognitive therapy with a behavioral therapy such as systematic desensitization has
proven effective in the treatment of phobic disorders (Meyers, 2004).

Chase A. Hurst
October 6, 2004
CHurst5841@gmail.com

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