Working through phobias

Hi, I was wondering about boundaries with therapists/clients and working through phobias.

I can not recall off hand where but I came across and article last week saying that in some cases such as a client who has a fear of flying, a therapist can fly with them, or if they are very shy and performing in a play, the therapist can attend

Is there any truth to this? I have some phobia issues we have yet to work on, most are not things like that where we would have to leave the office but I am terrified of winter driving. Right now I'm not sure I'll even be able to go to therapy during winter because of it.... so I am just curious if this is an acceptable boundary to work through phobias that I could mention to my T and maybe work through my winter driving fear with someone I trust in the car

This is definitely a thing - though finding a therapist who will actually leave the office with you may be difficult. It may not even be about boundaries so much as logistics / insurance difficulties. Still, I'd definitely bring up the phobia with your T - they may be able to help without actually being in the car with you.

I hope you find something that works. I was terrified of driving on the freeway - as a matter of fact, I didn't do so until I was 26 and sent out of town for work...and, well, I just had to. It was awful, but I got through it. I hope you can get through your phobia, too.

I can maybe ask about it then, he is aware of the phobia. We are trying to figure out a plan for my winter sessions. I hate freeway driving too which he also knows but seeing as he never suggested coming along, I'd assume he is not one of those type of T's

I hope you and he get a plan together that works. Driving phobias are pretty crippling. Growlycat (I think?) was working on this with her T, who could not actually be in the car due to insurance issues.

Yes I'll give the details once I'm out of work!! Bear with me just a few hours to go

With a few adjustments he is now willing to get in the car with me more on this later

cool. interested to hear about this

Sorry it took me so long!!

So, I have a driving phobia mostly focused on highway driving and unfamiliar places. My last t in California had to ask the Board of his clinic if there was any issue with him getting in the car with me They ok'd his request and we spent every other session doing phobia work. Getting on and off just one of exit on the highway etc.

Things fell apart at my last job so I scrambled to find another job in my field but I had to move to Texas. My t here initially said no that his liability insurance does not cover this. Oddly, as he got to know me, he changed his mind. Initially he wanted me to sign a document promising not to sue him if anything happens to me or my car. Now I'm not sure if he is even going to give it to me to sign at all. I keep asking him for it. I don't think he should change his rules just because he likes me. Anyways, I was then worried what happens if he sues me? So I took out a 10k Personal Injury Policy from my car insurance co. Pup insurance covers passengers in your car no matter who is at fault. Covers medical and lost wages. I got the max policy offered. Many states make Pip a requirement but coverage min is 2500.

Before current t agreed we can do car work, he did do a hypnosis session with me. It made me a calmer driver but not brave enough to hit the highways

My long term t would not get in the car at all. So some ts will not do this. Ask your and see

Ps another thing that worked for me was calling a drivers ed school and explain your situation. I had one or two instructors that were sensitive to phobia issues. They were very helpful. However some driving instructors are complete lunkheads who will not understand your phobia. Ask a driving school what a experience they have with phobic ADULT drivers.

Thanks for the info, very interesting! I will talk to my T about it

I'm actually getting n the car next week for the first time with latest t. He never made me sign that form but I did give him a copy of my supplemental policy. We are starting with driving to his new office down the road.

Well I asked mine about this, not the car thing specifically but just the idea of working on some of my phobias out of office, as sessions and he agreed to it, so that's cool. Will be nice having someone I trust there with me when I finally face some of this stuff.

That is really good news!! I hope it goes well for you. I'd be curious to hear if your t will get in the car with you. At the last minute my t made me sign th form agreeing not to sue him if something should happen in the car.

^ I will talk about it more on Tues.... that kind of stinks in your situation but at least he will still do it.

I know one of my phobias I've had since childhood (too embarrassed by it to say) would be really hard to just do soley in the office so that would also be a good one as well.

Feel free to DM me any time about your adventures, I've love to keep updated with your driving phobia and how it goes

Sure!! I'll keep you posted. Next week we are driving back and forth to his new office all different ways. He is moving offices at the end of the month and I don't feel ready.

Sadly he said no to the car thing, the company he works for wont sign the insurance stuff on something like that, so I guess I wont be managing that phobia. I need someone with me and everyone else I know is not interested in helping

Would he just sit in the car with you, with it turned off and parked? The way I feel about my T, if he sat in my car I would remember the feeling of safety later. It would be helpful I think.

Some driving schools are experienced with phobic drivers. It is actually cheaper to go that route anyways. I'm so sorry. I've had many ts say no in the past for the same reasons.

Yes there may be other ways that t can help you manage the phobia I hope your t gets creative!!

This hypnosis session on YouTube is very similar in script to the one my t used on me. This YouTube person also offers a free link to the mp3

Interesting idea!

I'll bring it up when we get to working on this, and maybe I can get him to record some things I can play in the car when I am driving or something