A support person is someone that you can rely on to help you manage your phobia. Although the term can refer to your therapist or other member of your treatment team, it is most often used to describe a close friend or relative who plays the roles of advocate, confidant and cheerleader.
Some people have a single support person, but it is usually best to have one primary and several secondary support people. This is because combating a phobia can be exhausting and time-consuming! Having a few people to choose from can keep your support people fresh and energetic.
Depending on your situation, your support person might accompany you to therapist appointments, go with you to events that trigger your phobia, or even preview situations to see if you will be able to handle them. Therefore, it is important to open up to your support person about your phobia, triggers and methods of coping.
