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View from an airport window of a commercial airplane parked at the gate before departure.

Fear of Flying Part 4: The Worst Advice for the Fear of Flying (and Why It Backfires)

by Joel SchmidtFear of Flying February 12, 2026February 14, 2026No Comments

As a therapist who works with people on the fear of flying, including understanding the science behind this fear and best practices for working with it, I see a lot of really bad advice online. Being a common fear, it’s not surprising there are many people desperate for answers and for anything that might help. There’s also no shortage of well-intended people who think they have the right answers. These ways of dealing with flight …

A Letter to My Clients: What to Expect When We Start Working with a Fear of Flying

by Joel SchmidtAnxiety, Self-improvement, Stress, Therapy, Worry January 5, 2026January 6, 2026No Comments

You’re here either because you recently decided to start work with me or because it’s something you are considering. If you’re dealing with flight anxiety—either avoiding flying altogether or white-knuckling your way through flights—you’re probably ready for relief. Ready to get over this thing so you can get on with doing the things that are truly important to you in life. And you’re also probably anxiously waiting to see how this all might work, what …

How Starting Therapy Helps You Stop Avoiding What Keeps You Stuck

by Joel SchmidtAnxiety, Self-improvement, Stress, Therapy, Worry November 13, 2025January 9, 2026No Comments

Is it possible that starting therapy can help you stop avoiding what keeps you stuck? One of the biggest and most recurring themes that comes up in therapy sessions is that of avoidance. A seemingly intuitive thing to do when faced with something uncomfortable is to try to avoid doing that thing. We avoid difficult conversations, facing our emotions, dealing with hard things that need to be taken care of, trying new things, meeting new …

Image of airplane for fear of flying blog

Fear of Flying (Part 3): 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Worry About Recent Flight Headlines

by Joel SchmidtAnxiety, Therapy August 14, 2025No Comments

Fear of Flying (Part 3): 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Worry About Recent Flight Headlines In part 3 of the “Fear of Flying” series, I thought it important to address all of the recent headlines in the news around flight-related incidents. Most fears or phobias have a certain level of irrationality, meaning that we realize our anxiety is disproportionate to the actual risk involved. Take someone’s fear of going to the dentist or doctor for routine …

Airplane to introduce a blog on fear of flying.

Fear of Flying (Part 2): Why Your Fear of Flying Isn’t Really About Flying

by Joel SchmidtAnxiety, Therapy June 27, 2025June 27, 2025No Comments

“Fear of Flying (Part Two): Why Your Fear of Flying Isn’t Really About Flying” As a specialist in working with anxiety, I often work with anxious fliers. They typically fit into one of two categories. They either do fly—occasionally, but only when they have to—and sort of fight their way through it with a lot of discomfort. Or they avoid flying altogether. They sometimes struggle to know why they’re “afraid of flying” when they rationally …