Fear of Flying Program

What Causes a fear of flying? 

Fear of flying often isn’t really about the plane itself. It can stem from a fear of losing control, claustrophobia, past panic attacks, turbulence experiences, or general anxiety that flying happens to trigger. For many people, it’s less about statistics on flight safety and more about the body’s fear response being activated in a confined, unfamiliar space.

Is fear of flying (aviophobia) treatable?

Yes. Fear of flying is highly treatable, especially with approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Most people don’t need to eliminate fear completely — they need tools to manage it so it no longer controls their choices, whether that means flying calmly or simply flying at all. Some people can sort of doing on their own by learning skills, such as those found in the workbook. Others find that individualized support, such as can be received in therapy, is necessary to sort it all out. 

What’s the difference between the workbook and therapy?

The Willing to Fly Workbook is a self-guided resource anyone can use on their own, anywhere in the world, to learn the same core concepts used in therapy – but it is not therapy. Therapy, on the other hand, is personalized, one-on-one support with a licensed therapist who can adapt the approach to your specific history, triggers, and pace: available to clients in Florida and South Carolina.

Do I need to be located in Florida or South Carolina to work with you?

Only for one-on-one therapy sessions. Joel is licensed to provide therapy to clients located in Florida and South Carolina. However, the Willing to Fly workbook and the Workbook + Strategy Session are available to anyone, anywhere in the world, since the strategy session is educational and consultative rather than therapy.

How long does it take to overcome fear of flying?

It varies by person, but many people notice meaningful changes within a few weeks of work. Even if your time is very limited before your next flight, understanding how to approach it differently can be helpful right away. The goal isn’t usually to eliminate fear completely right away. It’s to build tools so anxiety doesn’t stop you from flying or ruin the experience when you do.

What therapy methods work best for flight anxiety?

Two approaches are especially effective: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which helps you change your relationship with anxious thoughts and feelings instead of fighting them, and Exposure Therapy, which gradually and safely helps your body learn that flying related situations are not actually dangerous. Joel uses both in his work with clients.

Can I use the workbook if I’m not currently in therapy?

Yes. The workbook is designed to work as a standalone resource. Many people use it entirely on their own, while others use it alongside therapy or as a starting point before deciding if they want more personalized support.

Is therapy for this covered by insurance?

Joel is out of network with insurance, though some therapists in our practice may be in network. Even out of network, Joel can help you verify your out of network benefits, and many clients receive meaningful reimbursement.

What if I have to fly soon and don’t have weeks to work on this in therapy?

If your flight is coming up soon, the Workbook + Strategy Session (see above) is the fastest way to get real support. You’ll get the full workbook right away plus a focused session with Joel to figure out how to apply workbook concepts right away.