How the Emetophobia-Free programme was developed

In this week’s episode, Joe and Emetophobia-Free creator Rob explore the origins of the programme and its development over the past 30 years. Join us as we dive into the story behind a programme that’s helped thousands of people overcome a fear of being sick.

The birth of the programme

Rob was already an experienced psychotherapist working in Cambridge, and later in his own practice, when he started recognising some common traits among certain people coming to his practice. These people all had a fear of being sick, and all shared similar characteristics: they were very bright, driven people with obsessive qualities; they were perfectionists and black and white thinkers; they tended to brood and ruminate a lot; and the vast majority of them were female, mirrored in research indicating around 95% of emetophobes are female.

It was no coincidence then that there was such a prevalence of emetophobes in the university town of Cambridge where Rob was working, seeing hundreds of university students!

Pioneering treatment

At this time, Rob was already working on a manual to help people overcome and prevent mental health issues, which later became known as The Thrive Programme. The manual proved hugely successful with emetophobes, enabling hundreds to cure themselves.

Despite the manual’s success, Rob quickly realised that some emetophobes, driven by their desire for control, were skipping over the initial, essential chapters in search of a quick ‘cure’. To combat this, he created an emetophobia-specific manual, ensuring every chapter provided essential techniques to help emetophobes.

Raising awareness

Rob remembers being one of — if not the — first practitioners in the UK to raise awareness of emetophobia and champion an effective treatment. The term ‘emetophobia’ was hardly used back then, least of all by other therapists. Rob launched the first Emetophobia Awareness Day on March 5th 2014, which has gone on to gain global traction.

At a guess, Rob has only taken 10% of the total emetophobes through the programme himself, the other 90% aided by other programme coaches or working through the manual themselves. It’s a vital tool, but the success of the programme is all down to the overwhelming number of people who are now living full lives thanks to their hard work — able to have children, pursue careers and enjoy life without worrying all the time.

This episode featured discussion between Joe Manuel and Rob Kelly.