Support for fears and avoidance that have started to shape your plans, whether or not you are sure it counts as a phobia. Registered Psychologists regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Canadian Certified Counsellors certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), Registered Social Workers regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), and Mental Health Therapists at a range of fee levels. In-person sessions in Edmonton and St. Albert. Virtual sessions anywhere in Alberta.

Book a Session | Match with a Therapist

You Might Be Wondering Whether Phobia Counselling Is Right for You

You may be wondering whether your fear is serious enough to bring to a therapist. It can feel hard to justify when the thing that scares you is something other people seem to handle without thinking twice, like a needle, a flight, a dog, a highway, or a glass elevator. Part of you may believe you should be able to push through it on your own.

You might also have become very good at working around it: taking the stairs, booking the blood test and cancelling it the night before, or saying the weekend away sounds great and then finding a reason to stay home. From the outside, life may look fine. From the inside, the fear may be making more of your decisions than you would like.

These patterns make sense. Steering clear of something frightening brings relief in the moment, which is part of why avoidance can be so hard to let go of. Feeling this way is a common human reaction, not a sign that you are weak, dramatic, or broken. It also does not mean things have to stay this way.

If you are curious whether talking with someone could help, you may wish to read on. This page explains what phobia counselling involves, what the research gathered for it does and does not show, and what to expect if you decide to reach out. If you are reading on behalf of a child, partner, or friend, there is information here for you too.

Who We Help

Phobia counselling may be a good fit for:

• Adults, teens, and children (with a parent or guardian involved) whose fear of a specific object, animal, place, or situation is shaping their choices
• People putting off medical, dental, or other health appointments because of a fear of needles, blood, or procedures
• People finding that driving, flying, heights, travel, or enclosed spaces are getting harder to manage
• People who are not sure whether their fear "counts" and would like to talk it through
• Parents, partners, and family members gathering information for someone they care about

This service may not be the right fit if:

• You are in crisis or in immediate danger. Please use the crisis resources below.
• A fear of medical care is keeping you from treatment you urgently need. Please contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department. Counselling can run alongside medical care but cannot replace it.
• You need a formal diagnosis, a psychological assessment, or a report for legal, insurance, school, or workplace purposes. These needs are outside this counselling service. Psychological assessments are a separate service; you can read about our anxiety assessment service on its own page.
• You have questions about medication. Our clinicians do not prescribe medication. Your family doctor or pharmacist is the right person to ask.

If You Need Help Right Now

Counselling is not designed for emergencies. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or you are thinking about harming yourself, please contact one of these services now:

• Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if there is immediate danger
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988 (24/7)
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What Phobia Counselling Is and Is Not

Phobia counselling is talk-based support for fears and avoidance that are getting in the way of daily life. Sessions give you a structured place to talk about what has been happening, decide what you would like to be different, and look at options that suit your preferences and circumstances.

For context, the World Health Organization's ICD-11 classification lists specific phobia within the group of anxiety or fear-related disorders (World Health Organization [WHO], n.d.). A classification is not a diagnosis, though. This page cannot tell you whether any label applies to you, and you do not need a label to start counselling.

Phobia counselling is not:

• a crisis or emergency service, or a substitute for urgent medical care
• a legal service or an investigative process
• a psychological assessment, which is a separate service and is not included here
• medication management

You set the pace. Your therapist will not push you to talk about, or face, anything before you are ready. What you share is confidential within legal limits, which your therapist explains in your first session. Clinicians work within their training and regulatory scope of practice, and if something you need falls outside that scope, they can talk with you about other options or referrals.

Signs a Phobia or Strong Fear May Be Affecting You

Everyone's experience is different, and this is not a checklist. You may recognize some of these patterns:

• Planning routes, holidays, or whole days around avoiding one thing
• Putting off a dental visit, blood test, or vaccine because of what it involves
• Your body reacting fast when you get close to the feared thing, or even picture it: a pounding heart, sweaty hands, shakiness, or a wave of dizziness
• Knowing the fear is bigger than the actual danger, and feeling frustrated that knowing does not make it go away
• Spending a lot of time worrying ahead about whether you might run into it
• Saying no to invitations, trips, or chances at work or school
• Relying on someone else to handle it for you, or feeling like you are holding other people back
• Keeping the fear to yourself because you expect people to laugh it off

Having some of these experiences does not mean something is permanently wrong with you. They are common ways people respond when fear shows up strongly in the body and mind. Structured support may help you understand these patterns and decide what, if anything, you want to change.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can use the Match with a Therapist tool or browse Our Therapists to read about each clinician. If you would rather talk it through, our admin team can help at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. You can book through our online booking system or by phone. In the first session, your therapist reviews confidentiality and consent with you, asks what brought you in, and talks with you about your goals. You are welcome to ask about their approach, too.
• Build your plan together. Your plan is co-created. Depending on your goals, your comfort, and the clinician's scope of practice, it may include cognitive behavioural strategies, gradual exposure-based work, coping skills, or planning around the things that matter most to you. Nothing is added without your consent.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes. Follow-ups are typically weekly or every two weeks, and the schedule can change as your needs do.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews progress with you regularly, and the plan adapts as your needs change.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Therapy is a collaboration, and your voice matters at every stage, including when you want to slow down, change direction, or take a break. For more on what to expect, see Getting Started with Therapy.

Evidence and Approaches

We want to be clear about what the research behind this page can and cannot tell you. The sources gathered for it are a public education fact sheet from the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) and the World Health Organization's ICD-11 classification. They do not include systematic reviews or clinical guidelines, so the summaries below describe each approach without making claims about how well or how quickly it works.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What it helps with: Noticing the thoughts, body reactions, and avoidance habits that keep a specific fear going, and practising new ways to respond.

Evidence summary: The CPA's fact sheet on phobias identifies cognitive behaviour therapy as a psychological approach used for specific phobias, focused on approaching feared objects or situations slowly and safely (Canadian Psychological Association [CPA], 2020). The sources gathered for this page do not include research reviews measuring CBT outcomes for phobias.

Limitations: A public education fact sheet is not a systematic review of research. People respond differently, and CBT is not the right fit for everyone.

Gradual Exposure-Based Work

What it helps with: Slowly building your ability to be near an object or situation you have been avoiding.

Evidence summary: The CPA describes exposure-based work as repeatedly approaching what is feared, in small and safe steps, with the aim of lessening the strength of the fear reaction over time (CPA, 2020). The sources for this page do not compare exposure with other approaches, so it is presented here as one option rather than the best one.

Limitations: Exposure-based work is not right for everyone or for every moment. Whether and how it is used depends on your goals, consent, readiness, and any health or safety considerations, and it can be paused or adjusted.

Sessions may also include learning how fear and avoidance work, building coping and grounding skills, or planning around what matters to you. The sources gathered for this page do not evaluate these, so we describe them as possible parts of sessions rather than as evidence-based approaches. You can read more on our pages about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Exposure Therapy.

What Results to Expect

Progress with fear is rarely a straight line. A step that felt manageable one week may feel harder the next, especially during stressful periods. That is a normal part of the process, not a sign of failure.

Some people notice changes within a few months. Others find that longer-term work suits them better. What happens for you may depend on:

• the kind of fear you are working on and how much of your life it touches
• what else is going on, such as stress, health concerns, or other worries
• how well the approach and the therapist fit you

No therapy can guarantee a particular result, and outcomes vary from person to person. Fit matters. If the approach or the therapist does not feel right, you can raise it, change direction, or switch to a different clinician.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is confidential. Psychologists in Alberta are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and follow the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists published by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). Other clinicians on our team follow the standards of their own professional bodies.

Two Alberta laws shape how your information is handled. The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) generally governs how private clinics collect, use, and share personal information, and consent is central to it. The Health Information Act (HIA) governs health information held by custodians such as Alberta Health Services, and may apply when your care involves those providers. In practice, your information is collected, used, and shared only as the law and professional standards allow, and usually only with your consent.

There are a few situations where a therapist may be required or permitted by law to share information without your consent:

• a risk of serious harm to you or someone else
• a reason to believe a child is being abused or neglected, which Alberta law requires to be reported
• a court order for the release of records

Your therapist will explain these limits clearly in your first session. You are welcome to ask questions about privacy before you share anything personal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to explain where my fear came from, or describe it in detail?

No. You decide how much to share and when, and you do not need to know where your fear came from to get started. Counselling can focus on how the fear shows up in your life now and what you would like to be different. If talking about a past experience feels important later, you and your therapist can decide together how to approach it.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, within legal limits. Your therapist follows professional standards and Alberta privacy law, including PIPA and, where it applies, the HIA. Exceptions include a risk of serious harm, suspected abuse or neglect of a child, and a court order. Your therapist explains these limits in the first session, and the Confidentiality and Privacy section above has more detail.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no set number. It depends on your goals, what you are working on, and how things are going. Some people prefer shorter, focused work, and others benefit from longer-term support. You and your therapist review progress regularly and can adjust the plan at any point.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is okay to say so. You can raise it with your therapist directly, or contact our admin team at 780-904-4880 and they can help you find a different clinician. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I have sessions online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available anywhere in Alberta, and the same confidentiality standards apply. If your plan includes practising around a feared situation, you and your therapist can talk about whether in-person or virtual sessions suit that part of the work better. You can learn more on our online counselling page.

Will I be asked to face my fear right away?

No. If exposure-based work becomes part of your plan, it is discussed first, planned with you, and done in gradual steps you agree to. You can ask to slow down, pause, or try a different approach at any time.

Do I need a diagnosis or a referral to start?

You do not need a diagnosis to start counselling, and you can book directly online or by phone. If you plan to claim sessions through a benefits plan, check whether your plan has its own requirements before your first appointment.

I am looking into this for someone else. What can I do?

For a child or teen, a parent or guardian can contact our admin team to talk about options. For an adult, counselling is their own choice, and they will need to give their own consent. You are welcome to share this page or the Match Tool with them. If supporting them is wearing on you, our page on supporting someone's mental health may be useful.

Meet Your Clinicians

Our team includes Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Canadian Certified Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists, and Student Therapists completing master's-level practicums. All of our psychologists are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Registered Provisional Psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist. Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW).

Clinicians differ in their training and areas of focus. You can read individual profiles on our Our Therapists page to learn about each clinician's background and approach. The Match with a Therapist tool can help narrow your options, and our admin team can guide you at 780-904-4880.

Children and Youth

Strong fears are not only an adult experience. Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, teens, and young people, and therapists who work with younger clients use approaches suited to their age and stage. Clinicians also work with parents and caregivers to support the child at home and in daily life. You can read more on our child and youth anxiety page.

Next Steps

If you would like to talk with someone about a fear that is shaping your life, you can take the next step in whichever way feels easiest:

• Book a session through our online booking system
• Use the Match with a Therapist tool
• Call 780-904-4880
• Email info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Read Getting Started with Therapy

Starting the conversation is enough.

New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

References

• Canadian Psychological Association. (2020). "Psychology Works" fact sheet: Phobias.
• World Health Organization. (n.d.). ICD-11 for mortality and morbidity statistics.