What do you do if you want to be vaccinated, but you have an intense fear of needles? What do you do if you have a phobia- an intense, excessive, persistent fear of an object or situation? In a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, journalist Sam-Omar Hall discusses how you can overcome fear of needles to get vaccinated. If you experience ... Continue Reading
Taking Back Control: “In Vivo” Exposure ideas for Defeating Panic – Part 8 of an 8-Part Series
This is the last article in our blog series on the crippling mental health phenomenon of panic episodes. To review, here is a brief summary of what we’ve covered in this series: Panic can present in various different ways - mental, emotional, and physiological, as per part 1. Panic symptoms often develop due to feeling stuck or trapped. ... Continue Reading
Breaking the Link: Interoceptive Exposure for Panic – Part 7 of an 8-Part Series
Some people often speak about the “Mind-Body connection” as if our minds and our bodies are somehow two separate parts of how we experience life. However, the uncomfortable experience of panic symptoms is one of the clearest ways we know that mind and body are inextricably linked, one and the same. This is especially the case for people who ... Continue Reading
Highlighting Social Anxiety Disorder and Appreciating The Walking Dead – Ep. 4
Dr. Nikki Frousakis is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in California, and works with the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Southern California and the Department of Veterans Affairs. In Episode 4, Dr. Frousakis joins Martin on Psych Rally to clarify perceptions about the diagnosis and treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder. In addition, tune ... Continue Reading
Taking the Mystery Out of Exposure Therapy
Psychologists are often asked: "Why do you use exposure therapy? It sounds torturous to ask me to face what I've feared and avoided for so long! Isn't there an easier way to have the fear go away?" Exposure therapy is a name for one of the most powerful techniques in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). Exposure is the systematic, planned encounter ... Continue Reading