Phobias
What are Phobias?
Phobias are intense and irrational fears of specific objects, situations, or activities. While it is normal to feel nervous in certain circumstances, a phobia goes beyond typical fear, often triggering overwhelming anxiety and leading individuals to avoid the feared object or situation. This avoidance can significantly interfere with everyday life, work, relationships, and overall wellbeing.
What are the Symptoms of Phobias?
The symptoms of a phobia can vary depending on the individual and the trigger, but commonly include:
Obsessions
Rapid heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Trembling or shaking
Sweating
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
A sense of unreality or detachment
Intense desire to flee or avoid the feared situation
These symptoms can occur even when simply thinking about the phobic trigger, not just when directly encountering it.
What are the Symptoms of Phobias?
The symptoms of a phobia can vary depending on the individual and the trigger, but commonly include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Trembling or shaking
- Sweating
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- A sense of unreality or detachment
- Intense desire to flee or avoid the feared situation
These symptoms can occur even when simply thinking about the phobic trigger, not just when directly encountering it.
What are some of the different types of phobias?
Phobias are typically divided into two main categories:
01.
Specific Phobias
These are fears related to a particular object, animal, or situation, such as fear of heights (acrophobia), spiders (arachnophobia), or flying (aviophobia).
02.
Complex Phobias
These involve more intense and disabling fears, often developing in adulthood. Examples include:
Agoraphobia
Fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult, such as crowded places or public transport.
Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)
Fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations.
These are fears related to a particular object, animal, or situation, such as fear of heights (acrophobia), spiders (arachnophobia), or flying (aviophobia).
What are the treatment options for Phobias?
Effective treatments are available to help individuals manage and overcome phobias. These may include:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
A structured talking therapy that helps individuals identify, challenge, and change negative patterns of thought and behaviour linked to their phobia.
Exposure Therapy
Often used alongside CBT, this involves gradual and controlled exposure to the feared object or situation to reduce sensitivity over time.
Medication
In some cases, medications such as antidepressants or beta-blockers may be prescribed to help manage symptoms, particularly when anxiety is severe.
How do we diagnose Phobias?
Phobias are diagnosed through a detailed clinical assessment by a qualified mental health professional. This usually involves:
- Taking a full history of symptoms and how they affect daily life
- Exploring any patterns of avoidance or distress
- Using structured diagnostic criteria, such as those found in the DSM-5
- Ruling out other mental health conditions that may cause similar symptoms, such as generalised anxiety disorder or panic disorder
An accurate diagnosis ensures that the right treatment plan can be developed to meet the individual’s needs.
What we can't treat
- If you are under the care of a community mental health team, please get in touch with them or their crisis helpline.
- Phone the Samaritans, who operate an always open service where you can talk to someone in confidence. They can be contacted on 116 123.
- Contact the NHS on 111.
- Request an emergency appointment with your GP.
- Phone 999 or visit your local A&E if there is a life threatening mental health emergency.
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs)
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, our team is here to help. Contact us for personalized guidance.
A private phobia assessment at Harley Street Mental Health is a thorough evaluation carried out by an experienced consultant psychiatrist. We assess the nature, severity, and impact of your specific phobia, alongside your mental health history, to provide a clear diagnosis and create a personalised treatment plan. Our goal is to help you overcome your fears and regain confidence in everyday life.
All phobia assessments are conducted by consultant psychiatrists who are GMC-registered and highly experienced in treating anxiety disorders and specific phobias. Our psychiatrists are hand-selected for their clinical expertise and approachable, compassionate communication style, ensuring you feel safe and supported throughout your assessment.
During your assessment, your psychiatrist will discuss the development and nature of your phobia, the situations or objects you fear, the severity of your physical and emotional reactions, and how the phobia affects your daily functioning. They will also explore your mental health background, lifestyle, and any previous treatments. This full understanding helps us create a targeted, effective treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Yes. Our phobia assessments and diagnoses follow NICE guidelines and are generally accepted by NHS services and GPs. If you are diagnosed with a specific phobia, your GP should be able to add the diagnosis to your NHS records. However, if medication is recommended, it’s advisable to check with your GP if they can continue prescribing, as individual policies may vary.
Before your appointment, you will receive electronic questionnaires asking about your symptoms, history, and experiences. Completing these beforehand can help you organise your thoughts and reduce anxiety about the session. It’s helpful to reflect on when your phobia started, how it impacts your life, and what situations you avoid. Bringing along any past psychiatric reports, therapy notes, or a list of current medications can also support a more comprehensive assessment.
Treatment for phobias often includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with exposure-based techniques, gradual desensitisation, and in some cases, medication to manage anxiety symptoms. Your psychiatrist will discuss the best evidence-based options for you, tailoring your treatment plan to your specific needs, experiences, and comfort levels.
Yes. Our psychiatrists are trained to prescribe medications that can help manage the symptoms of phobias when needed, following the Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines. This might include short-term use of anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants to support therapy work. We take a cautious, personalised approach, with medication used only when appropriate alongside psychological treatments.
Yes. We know that discussing fears and phobias can feel daunting. All our psychiatrists are selected for their empathetic, approachable nature and their skill in creating a calm, non-judgmental space where you can feel comfortable sharing your experiences.
Absolutely. Harley Street Mental Health is committed to inclusive, respectful mental health care for every patient. We understand that experiences of fear and anxiety can be influenced by cultural and personal factors. We always ask for and use your preferred name and pronouns and adapt our assessments and treatments to ensure they are sensitive to your identity and background.
We offer both virtual phobia assessments and in-person assessments at our prestigious clinic at 10 Harley Street, London. The clinical process, diagnostic quality, and personalised care are exactly the same. Some patients prefer the convenience and privacy of a remote appointment, while others feel more at ease speaking face-to-face. You can choose whichever option you are most comfortable with.
What makes you different to other clinics?
We hand pick all of our clinicians to ensure that they have the same values as us.
This ensures that our service users are actually listened to and are the heart of our treatment plans.
We recognise that diagnosis and treatment plans cannot simply be “one size fits all” and our personalised down to earth approach aims to keep the process as easy as possible.
We will try to keep your costs low where possible. Once you are on the right dose and feeling settled (you may need one or two medication titration appointments to achieve this), you can order your medication through the repeat medication process.
Following two months of being on the same dose, with no further changes, we will consider returning your care to your GP.
Can I see you on the NHS?
We are a private clinic, and therefore you cannot be seen by us as part of the NHS. <br><br>We can write to your GP once you are stable on your treatment to ask them to take over prescribing as part of a Shared Care Agreement, however they are under no obligation to accept this agreement.
Do I need a referral?
Our clinicians can see you directly without a referral, however a condition of all appointments is that you agree for Harley Street Mental Health to copy your GP into all assessment and treatment plans.
We are happy to accept referrals from other clinicians, however this is not necessary to use our service.
What happens during an appointment?
If you have booked a virtual appointment, you will be sent an invitation through our clinic software known as “Semble”. On the day of your appointment, you click the link and will enter into a video interview with one of our clinicians.
If you have booked an in-person appointment you will be greeted by your clinician in the waiting room.
Do you accept insurance?
Currently we do not accept insurance, and all of our assessments and treatment plans are self funded, and therefore we encourage you to look at the “fees” page prior to booking.
Do you prescribe medication?
Our team are able to prescribe medication as part of your treatment plan if this is required. Our prescriptions are private, and therefore you will be liable for the cost of the prescription and the medication.
Hod do I know if the treatment will be beneficial?
Unfortunately, there are no guarantees with psychiatry. All of our clinicians are extremely experienced and prescribe based on the most up to date evidence base. You will be involved in your treatment plans at all stages.
I have a complaint?
We are sorry to hear that you have a complaint. Please see the complaints section of our website or email complaints@hsmh.co.uk where we will endeavour to resolve your complaint in a timely manner.
What are the fees associated with ADHD Assessments?
Please see the fees section on the website. It is important that you are aware of all costs prior to starting treatment. An ADHD assessment costs £715 and lasts approximately 1.5 hours and will include a detailed written report and treatment plan (includes a prescription which will posted to your chosen pharmacy, if medication is considered suitable for you).
The cost of medication will be in addition to this and paid directly to your chosen pharmacy.
We then require service users to attend titration appointments at £150 each where your medication is adjusted until most effective. Once you move on to repeat prescriptions, they will cost £48 for a monthly prescription.
Once you are stable on your medication (around two months of being on the same dose, with no further changes and you feel much better) you can ask us to write to your GP and enter into a shared care agreement which costs £125. Your GP is under no obligation to accept a shared care agreement, and therefore we encourage all service users to discuss this with their GP prior to using our service.
Are you registered with the CQC?
Yes, we have been approved for registration with the Care Quality Commission
I have another question
Please email us on contact@hsmh.co.uk and we will get back to you shortly
Our Process
Prior to booking an appointment we encourage patients to :
1. Discuss their concerns with their GP. We encourage this to start the discussion early, in particular asking them if they are able to enter into shared care agreements once you are stable. If they are unable to do this, it will mean that even once stable, all of your prescriptions will have to be provided through Harley Street Mental Health at a cost.
2. Read the information provided about the conditions we treat in the above table and consider filling in the screening questionnaires.
3. Request a Summary Care Record from your GP. This can be accessed either through the NHS app, or by phoning up your GP Surgery.
4. Ensure you review the fee’s section of the website and are comfortable with the fees associated with assessment and treatment.
5. Ensure you are aware that unfortunately we are unable to provide services to individuals suffering from any psychiatric emergencies, suicidal ideations, or individuals that are currently under the care of a community mental health team.
If you have any questions about our services prior to booking please email contact@hsmh.co.uk and we will assist you on your journey with Harley Street Mental Health.
Use our online booking portal to book a virtual consultation using our state of the art video conferencing software, or email us to schedule an appointment in our prestigious clinic at 10 Harley Street.
Prior to your appointment you will receive an email providing information on what to expect on the day, along with a patient information questionnaire and a self-assessment form to fill in. We require that these are submitted prior to attending your appointment.
If you are visiting us at our clinic in person, one of our friendly clinicians will meet you in the waiting room.
If you are using our secure virtual service, you will be sent a link to join using our state of the art video conferencing software called Semble.
At both appointments you will be required to provide photo identification to confirm your identity. At virtual appointments you will be required to let the clinician know your current location.
This must take place within the United Kingdom.
After your appointment the following will occur:
1. You will receive your assessment outcome via email within 24-48 hours. Where appropriate this will contain your diagnosis and treatment plan.
2. Once agreed, your prescription will be sent to your chosen pharmacy in 72-96 hours. If you choose to use one of our nominated pharmacies, they are able to post medications directly to your door.
3. Your clinician will advise you on frequency of follow-up appointments to monitor treatment and progress.
When your treatment has been completed, you can request us to enter into a shared care agreement with your GP.
If they agree, then they will be able to take over prescribing of medication subject to the conditions of the shared care agreement.
In some instances a GP may refuse to enter into a shared care agreement, in which case all future prescriptions will have to be provided through Harley Street Mental Health. It is for this reason that we ask patients to speak to their GP prior to booking an appointment with our service.
How do I book an appointment?
Booking is quick and easy. Simply visit our website, select your service, and choose a suitable time.
Do you offer in-person and virtual consultations?
Yes, we provide both in-person assessments at 10 Harley Street and secure virtual consultations.
How soon will I receive my assessment report?
You will receive your detailed assessment report within 3 to 5 days after your consultation.
Are your clinicians qualified and accredited?
Absolutely. Our team consists of GMC-registered doctors and accredited specialists following NICE guidelines.
Can I get a repeat prescription?
Yes, we offer a straightforward repeat prescription service for ongoing treatment management.
Book your assessment today
Have a glance at the calendar and select a good time for you.