Phobia Therapy in Los Angeles and Online Across California
Fear of flying, heights, driving, needles, animals, and more. Usually the shortest treatment I do.
Hi, I'm Jeff. I'm a licensed therapist (MS, LPCC) and I specialize in anxiety disorders, including specific phobias. If there's one fear that's been quietly running your decisions for years, the trip you didn't take, the freeway you don't drive, the medical appointment you keep putting off, I have good news: phobias are among the most treatable things in mental health, and treatment is usually brief.
Book a free 15-minute callNo pressure, no commitment. We'll talk about what's going on and whether I'm the right fit.
Does this sound like you?
- There's one specific thing that sets off intense fear, out of proportion to any real danger, every time.
- You avoid it, or you get through it white-knuckled and exhausted.
- Just thinking about it, or seeing it on a screen, gets your heart going.
- You've built workarounds: the long drive instead of the flight, the stairs instead of the elevator, the excuse instead of the appointment.
- You know it's irrational. Everyone has told you it's irrational. That hasn't helped.
Common phobias I work with:
If yours isn't listed, it almost certainly still applies. The approach is the same.
How phobia treatment works
The treatment for specific phobias is gradual exposure combined with CBT, and it's one of the best-supported treatments in all of psychotherapy.
We start by understanding the fear. Not just "I'm afraid of flying" but what specifically: the takeoff, the turbulence, being trapped, the panic itself. Most phobias have a core prediction underneath ("the plane will crash," "I'll faint," "I'll lose control") and we find it.
We build a ladder. A list of situations related to the fear, ordered from easiest to hardest. For driving, that might run from sitting in a parked car to a short surface-street drive to a freeway on-ramp to a full commute. For flying, it might start with photos and videos and end at the airport.
We climb it, one step at a time. Each step, you stay with the discomfort long enough for it to come down on its own, which it does. Your brain updates. The next step gets easier. We combine this with the thinking tools from CBT and, if panic symptoms are part of the picture, work on the physical sensations directly.
Mindfulness holds it together. Learning to notice fear without treating it as a signal to escape is the skill that keeps the gains after therapy ends.
Some phobias, like needles or blood, involve a fainting response rather than panic, and those need a slightly different technique. We'll cover that on the call if it applies.
What to expect
A free 15-minute phone call. You tell me what the fear is and what it's costing you. I tell you honestly whether I think I can help, and roughly how long I'd expect it to take.
The first session. We go through the history of the fear, what specifically triggers it, and what you've been avoiding. We build the first draft of your ladder together.
The work. Weekly sessions. Some exposure happens in session, some between sessions in real life. For a single, uncomplicated phobia, many people are done in a handful of sessions. If the phobia is tangled up with panic or broader anxiety, it takes longer and we treat both.
Why work with me
- Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California (MS, LPCC #423)
- I've lived with anxiety, panic, and OCD myself. The treatments I use are the ones that worked for me.
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- In-person, telehealth, or walk-and-talk sessions
In person, online, or walking
In my office. I'm in Los Feliz, at 4620 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027.
By video. I see clients by telehealth anywhere in California, including the Bay Area, San Diego, Orange County, and Sacramento. Phobia work translates well to video, since much of the exposure happens where the fear actually lives.
Walk and talk. Sessions walking around the Silver Lake Reservoir, if you'd rather talk while moving.
Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM.
Fees
Sessions are 50 minutes and $250. I offer a sliding scale based on financial need, so if cost is the thing stopping you, ask me about it on the call.
Questions people ask before booking
How many sessions does phobia treatment take?
For a single, straightforward phobia, often somewhere between five and twelve sessions. It's longer if the fear is severe, if there's more than one, or if it comes with panic attacks or generalized anxiety. I'll give you an honest estimate on the first call.
Will you make me face the thing I'm afraid of?
Yes, gradually, and never before you're ready. You build the ladder and you set the pace. Each step is one you've agreed to. The point isn't to overwhelm you; it's to let your brain learn, step by step, that the fear is bigger than the danger.
Can phobias be treated online?
Usually, yes. Much of the exposure happens in your own environment anyway, between sessions with a plan we've made together. For some phobias, in-person sessions help for the harder steps, and we can mix the two.
I have a flight in three weeks. Is that enough time?
Sometimes. It depends on how severe the fear is and how much practice you can do. Reach out and I'll tell you honestly what's realistic.
Is a phobia the same as anxiety?
A specific phobia is one type of anxiety disorder, focused on one thing. If you also deal with broader anxiety or panic attacks, those pages might be worth a look: Anxiety therapy → Panic attacks →
Do you take insurance?
I'm a private-pay practice, which is what lets me keep a small caseload and offer a sliding scale. Many clients get part of the cost back through their plan's out-of-network benefits; I provide the paperwork for that each month, and I'm happy to walk you through it on the call.
Book a free 15-minute call
Pick a time below. We'll talk for 15 minutes about what's going on, and you can decide whether you'd like to keep going. No obligation.
Prefer to call or email? (323) 362-6555 · jeff@jeffreybornstein.com