About the Program 

Children with a specific phobia are very afraid of certain objects, animals, or situations. For example, some children are very afraid of spiders, dogs, wasps, loud noises, getting a sting, heights or small spaces. Many children suffer from a specific phobia, and that can make life at home and school quite difficult. 

In collaboration with a large international team, we have developed the KibA program to help children with a specific phobia. With the KibA program, we investigate whether we can further improve the treatment of children with a specific phobia with the help of an exercise program. Within this study, we offer a treatment that we already know helps most children with a specific phobia. 

For whom? 

The KibA program is for all children with a specific phobia between the ages of 7 and 14. The KibA program helps children with almost all specific phobias. Below is a list of examples. If your fear is not listed, feel free to call or email, we can probably help you too! 

• Animals: dogs, cats, spiders, wasps, bees, bumblebees, birds, snakes, rodents (and many more)
• Situations: heights, dark, thunderstorms, storms, lightning, elevators, small spaces, flying the plane, riding in the car
• Medical procedures: going to the doctor or dentist, medical procedures, getting a shot, blood
• Other: clowns, balloons, ghosts, ghosts, buttons 

About the program 

In this project, we aim to determine whether a home-based exercise program can further improve the treatment of specific phobias in children.. We compare a training program with a mobile app – supported by a therapist – with a program with instructions from the therapist. There will be a draw to determine which exercise program your child will receive. If you and your child choose to participate in this study, you will visit one of the participating institutions a total of seven times. Participation is free. 

During the training, the children team up with their therapist to overcome their fear. Your child learns a lot about the situations he/she is afraid of and learns to deal with this fear better. Step by step, the children will overcome their fear and master difficult situations. 

Where does the program run and what does it cost? 

Five institutions in the Netherlands are currently participating in the programme: 

• Leiden University Treatment and Expertise Centre in Leiden
• UvaMinds in Amsterdam
• Psychologist practice Kuin in Haarlem
• Psychologist practice Sieverding in Heemstede
• Accare location in Groningen. 

Treatment for children with a specific phobia and therefore also the KibA program falls under youth care. This means that the KibA program is free with a referral from the general practitioner or from the parent and child center. At the moment, youth care in the Netherlands is arranged through the municipality. This means that the institutions make agreements with the municipalities about reimbursements. 

More information or sign up? 

The registration period for the research project in which the specific phobia/KibA treatment was offered has expired. Unfortunately, no new participants can be registered. For more information about specific phobias and their treatment, please contact us.