Self-Distancing for Specific Phobia in Youth

Self-Distancing is a cognitive technique that involves a shift in self-talk characterized by replacing first-person (e.g., "I") with second- or third-person pronouns (i.e., "you", one's own name) to promote an adaptive, self-reflective stance in emotionally charged situations. This trial aims to help learn how self-distancing may increase behavioral approach during exposures. To find out if self-distancing works by helping children approach fear-inducing stimuli, the study will look at behaviors and physiological responses related to approach, as well as symptom severity, before and after this cognitive technique. The study hypothesizes that Self-Distancing will lead to greater increases in approach behaviors and a larger decrease in symptom severity compared to a control condition (first-person self-talk).