All of us have fears – kids and adults alike. Many of us even enjoy a good scare now and again (there’s a reason why horror movies do so well). Most fears – real or imagined – eventually respond to reassurance, emotional calming, or distraction. But when a fear persists, resisting rational or emotional soothing and creating obstacles in daily life, it becomes a phobia.

Just in time for Halloween, we’re kicking off our new season with a look at specific phobias in kids. We’re joined by special guest Susan Sprich, PhD of Massachusetts General Hospital to learn more about fears and phobias, and to discuss what treatments work best and what parents can do to help.

Media List

• Susan Sprich, PhD (Massachusetts General Hospital)
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy, featuring Susan Sprich, PhD (Spotify)
• Could You Have Samhainophobia or the Fear of Halloween? (VeryWell)
• Types of Specific Phobia (Perlman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania)
• Fear of the Dark? 16 Ways to Help Your Child (MGH Clay Center)
• Nature Vs. Nurture, featuring Jordan Smoller, MD, ScD (Acast)
• Treatment – Phobias (NHS)
• How Do You Treat Specific Phobias in Kids? (MGH Clay Center)
• Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale – Revised (CTRS-R) (Beck Institute)
• Involving family members in exposure therapy for children and adolescents (American Psychological Association)

Thanks for joining in this conversation. We hope to see you back the Third Thursday of every month! Subscribe wherever you stream.

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.