Justyna Maciaszek, a psychologist and psychotherapist with a certificate in Neurolinguistic Psychotherapy (NLP) has used her clinical experiences to develop apps that help overcome phobias. For the last eight years, Maciaszek has worked in Warsaw, Poland, with people suffering from anxiety disorders. While she found that the sessions with her patients were important to their recovery, she wished that she could give them more intensive treatment while still keeping the therapy affordable.
Her husband, Konrad Rokicki, and his team of developers and IT professionals suggested creating a mobile application that people could use to help diminish their phobias.
“People know that phobias are irrational and some phobias can even limit the enjoyment of life. That's why people approach therapists for treatment,” said Maciaszek. “Our apps are based on NLP phobia treatment methods which include visualization, mind-mapping and dissociation. NLP is a newer treatment for phobias but it has been proven effective. I use NLP techniques during sessions with my patients, but I wanted to find a way to speed up their recovery from their phobias. With the new apps, instead of using NLP methods just when they come to me for sessions, they can do the therapy on their own every day. This immediately helps them to feel more in control of their phobias and in itself that is positive.”
According to Maciaszek the NLP techniques in the apps work by programming the individual's brain to stop fearing situations that used to result in panic. In part this is done by connecting the negative experience with a positive experience, such as a picture of a teddy bear.
“To understand how this works, imagine two glasses of water. In the first glass, there is cold water — your fear and phobia — and in the second, hot water — your feelings of relaxation. If you gently pour hot water into the cold water, it will warm up and no longer be uncomfortable,” explained Maciaszek. “People can use the apps as tools to decrease their phobias or as an addition to their therapy. This method is friendly so it can be used with children — but always under the control of their parents.”
To make the app effective, there are multiple selection possibilities available for specific needs. The user is told to choose a photo from a list or can add any photo required. The photos associated with the phobia trigger anxiety and the cute images are calming. With regular use, preferably daily, the app will condition the brain to decrease the irrational fear response.
There are other therapies used in phobia treatment, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In the review section for the app at iTunes it appears that a duel of psychologists is under way, but Maciaszek stood her ground concerning the effectiveness of the app.
“When it comes to treating phobias there is published research showing that there is no difference in the effectiveness of CBT and NLP,” the psychotherapist asserted. “I hope that our apps will offer an enhanced quality of life for all who make use of them.”
For now, these new iPhone applications are targeting fear of spiders, flying and dentists, with fear of needles, Trypanophobia, planned for the future. Watch a video of the “Fear of Dentists” app in use through: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrDEio61VWg. Arab News has some promo codes for the app. If you're a health professional in Saudi Arabia, drop an e-mail to [email protected] with your details and the first 30 requesters will receive a free code.
