Hi guys - welcome Catherine! My immediate response to your post is that you need a better therapist. Anyone who's "cross" with a client is an idiot,in my opinion. The most important thing in therapy and in all therapy techniques is "unconditional positive regard" for the client. Sounds to me like this woman has never suffered from a disorder and has little capacity for empathy. Your first therapist who was "puzzled" by the phobia again sounds inexperienced to me - she runs up against something she's never heard of and instead of researching it or asking a supervisor for help, she refers you elsewhere. These "broken relationships" actually ADD to a client's anxiety.


So please don't lose hope. Refer to my paper on a sticky post at the top of this section about how to choose a professional, and give it another try. If Bourne's book is helping you, then you're a prime candidate for really being able to get over this completely.


Take care and good luck!