POP - Preschoolers Overcoming Phobias

11/04/2025

Are you a parent of a child aged 7–17 who experiences significant fear or anxiety around dogs?

This study, led by registered psychologist and Clinical Psychology PhD candidate Imogene Calteaux, is part of her doctoral research focused on supporting parents to help their children overcome a specific phobia of dogs

What the study offers:

✔️ A free psychological assessment
✔️ Online parent training to equip you with evidence-based strategies to support your child in gradually facing and overcoming their fear
✔️ Ongoing support and check-ins with a psychologist throughout the process

If you’re interested or would like to learn more, please complete the short enquiry form here:

https://forms.office.com/r/B9rgALdXPR

26/10/2023

04/05/2023

Does your child become EXTREMELY scared about certain objects or situations? Maybe dogs 🐶 , spiders 🕷️ , doctors/dentists 👩🏼‍⚕️, darkness 🌙, heights 🎢, or storms ⛈️?

Do they freeze, cry, run away, cling to you, or even throw a tantrum when they have to be around it?

Do they avoid going to certain places, because they are afraid their feared object/situation may be there?

Are they unable to do their normal routine or participate in their hobbies?

If you said yes to these, your child may have a specific phobia. However, Griffith University can help!!!

Enquire about our FREE TREATMENT AND ASSESSMENT for children aged between 3 and 6 years old below ⬇️

https://www.griffith.edu.au/griffith-health/school-applied-psychology/research/pre-schoolers-overcoming-phobias

The Pre-schoolers Overcoming Phobias (POP!) study is a nationally funded treatment study of young children (3 to 6 years) with specific phobias.

17/04/2023

Chief Investigator of our POP trial, Professor Lara Farrell, discusses the treatment of child phobias.

“Virtual reality technology plays an increasingly important role in the delivery of phobia interventions. Innovative ideas on how to scale a low-cost solution would be enormously beneficial to the delivery of childhood anxiety intervention.” - Professor Lara Farrell

08/03/2023

Does your child become EXTREMELY scared about certain objects or situations? Maybe dogs 🐶 , spiders 🕷️ , doctors/dentists 👩🏼‍⚕️, darkness 🌙, heights 🎢, or storms ⛈️?

Do they freeze, cry, run away, cling to you, or even throw a tantrum when they have to be around it?

Do they avoid going to certain places, because they are afraid their feared object/situation may be there?

Are they unable to do their normal routine or participate in their hobbies?

If you said yes to these, your child may have a specific phobia. However, Griffith University can help!!!

Enquire about our FREE TREATMENT AND ASSESSMENT for children aged between 3 and 6 years old below ⬇️

https://www.griffith.edu.au/griffith-health/school-applied-psychology/research/pre-schoolers-overcoming-phobias

10/02/2023

Is your child afraid of spiders or insects? 🕷🐝🪳

Do they avoid certain places like the backyard, the garage or outdoor areas because they're scared they may see a spider or insect?

Do they run away, cry, scream or ask you to kill it for them? And even after then, they are still scared?

If you said yes to these questions your child may have a specific phobia and Griffith University can help!

Enquire now at the link below ⬇️
https://www.griffith.edu.au/griffith-health/school-applied-psychology/research/pre-schoolers-overcoming-phobias

07/02/2023

Did you know dog phobias are the most common type of fear amongst children?

Does your child become extremely upset around dogs? Do they cling to you, avoid going to places where they may see a dog?

If this sounds like your child they may have a specific phobia of dogs. Griffith University can help with free assessment and treatment available!

Enquire now with the link below! ⬇️

https://www.griffith.edu.au/griffith-health/school-applied-psychology/research/pre-schoolers-overcoming-phobias

06/02/2023

FREE treatment for preschool children to conquer their fears and phobias!

Does your child become afraid of certain situations or objects?
Do they get very upset, cry or cling when around dogs, darkness, spiders/animals, costumed characters, high places, or water?

Griffith University can help!

Follow the link below to enquire now
https://www.griffith.edu.au/griffith-health/school-applied-psychology/research/pre-schoolers-overcoming-phobias

30/09/2021

Griffith Uni ranks in the top 2 percent of universities globally with 50,000 students spanning six campuses in South East Queensland, Australia.

26/09/2021

01/03/2021

Does my child have a Phobia or a Fear?

This is the most common question parents ask us! Childhood fears are normal, and children do tend to “grow out of them”; however, phobia’s tend to persist and can lead to a host of other mental health disorders later in life. SO, how can you tell the difference? Here are some questions to help you decide:

1. Is your child’s fear reaction intense? For example, do they freeze, run, cry, cling to you, or even tantrum?

2. Does your child try and AVOID places where they might have to face their fear? For example, do they beg you not to go to the dog park?, not want to visit friends with dogs?, avoid entering dark rooms without you?

3. Does your child’s fear stop them from doing routine activities, or lead to you having to change plans or accommodate to your child’s fear?

If you have answered YES to any of the above, your child’s fear may be a phobia. Phobias are a serious problem but can be treated! We are here to help.

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