Fear of public transportation, flying, or enclosed spaces: how online EMDR can help you
When your body says no… even before things get started
Logbook – EMDR PEPS practice
When it comes to specific phobias, I often picture a system that sets off an alarm… without waiting for the situation to actually become dangerous.
The ticket is booked. The trip is planned. The door hasn't even closed yet.
And already, the body is reacting.
Via EMDR teleconsultation, patients don’t just talk about fear. They talk about an immediate surge, a point of no return, a feeling that “things are going to spiral out of control.”
As if the situation were already unfolding.
In my EMDR PEPS practice, these phobias are never treated as irrational fears. They are understood as responses of the nervous system based on strong associations, often formed as a result of traumatic experiences.
It is this approach that makes it possible to work effectively, even during video calls.
Understanding Phobias and Their Origins
A quick association between situation and danger
In a phobia, the brain makes a direct connection:
- airplane = danger
- enclosed space = loss of control
- transport = inability to escape
This connection isn't a conscious one. It's automatic.
In the clinic, we always see the same pattern: the reaction occurs before the person even has time to analyze it. The symptoms then become indicators:
- rapid heartbeat
- feeling of suffocation
- the urge to run away
- loss of control
Clinical experience shows that fear is not related to the actual danger. It is related to how the system has learned to interpret the situation.
EMDR: An Effective Approach for Treating Phobias
Change the association rather than fight the fear
EMDR does not seek to reassure. It works on the association itself.
In this type of situation, the task involves:
- identify the experiences that cause fear
- access the associated sensory elements
- deal with the emotional toll
- allow for proofreading
This approach changes the automatic response. It doesn’t eliminate the situation; it transforms the way it is experienced.
EMDR via video chat: practical and reassuring
Work without sudden exposure
When it comes to phobias, the setting is key. Video calls make it possible to work on:
- in a familiar environment
- without immediate direct exposure
- with control over the tempo
In clinical practice, we have observed that this framework facilitates engagement. The system can address the situation without feeling overwhelmed. This framework allows for:
- a more gradual increase
- better regulation
- a more stable commitment
Would you like to find out if EMDR en visio is right for you? Let's have a chat together.
Preparing for desensitization
Move forward without straining
When it comes to phobias, trying to confront the situation head-on can be counterproductive. The mind needs to understand before it can act. The first session allows you to:
- identify triggers
- identify key moments
- understand how the system works
EMDR work is then carried out gradually. We don’t force the client to confront their issues. Instead, we help the system learn to respond differently.
Conclusion
When the situation no longer sets off the alarm
Specific phobias are not a lack of courage. They are responses from the nervous system based on strong associations. Video-based EMDR allows you to work directly on these associations in a safe environment.
When these connections are altered, the situation ceases to be threatening. And what was once off-limits becomes accessible.
Would you like to address a fear that’s holding you back in your daily life? An initial consultation will help determine whether this type of support is right for you.
