Gag Reflections

Dara Lovitz is an adjunct professor of animal law, a publications manager for a continuing legal education provider, and co-founder of the nonprofit organization Peace Advocacy Network. She lives in the Philadelphia area. David Yusko, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and co-founder of the Center for Anxiety & Behavior Therapy, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He spent 10 years with the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania developing cognitive behavioral treatments for anxiety disorders with a particular emphasis on exposure-based therapies.

Table of Contents


Introduction

Act 1: Avoidance

One—Growing Up as an Emetophobe

Two—Applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on My Own

Three—The Proverbial Straw That Broke the Proverbial Camel’s Back

Four—Easing Into Exposure Therapy

Five—Learning. Doing. Learning. Repeat.

Act 2: Exposure

Six—The History of Exposure Therapy

Seven—How the Wonderfully Awful World of YouTube Changed My Life

Eight—“Join the Fiesta, Bitches!”

Act 3: Maintenance

Nine—Relapses and How to Prevent Them

Ten—Maintaining Recovery

Eleven—My Life as a Recovering Emetophobe

Appendix I: Exposure Therapy Treatment Rationale for Emetophobia

Appendix II: Exposure Homework Forms

Appendix III: SUDS Thermometer

Appendix IV: Instructions for In Vivo Exposure

Appendix V: Sample Exposure Hierarchy

FAQs with Dr. Yusko

References

Index