The lived experience of living with social phobia and pets : implications for counselling

Abstract

This study explored the lived experience of adults with Social Phobia (SP) who own pets. Using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) type of approach an individual, onetime, audio-recorded semi-structured interviews were conducted with four participants who contacted me through social media to gather the information needed to conduct the study. Lack of attachment and constant criticism were identified as two main causes that can lead to or increase SP. Whilst in the literature, there is no definite reason why SP can be triggered, the participants reported strict upbringing and high levels of pressure. Constant bullying also reinforced their beliefs that they were not good enough, and these negative reinforcements created a distorted version of how they saw themselves and how others perceived them, leading to maladaptive cycles of avoidance behaviour and self-medication. Participants also expressed that whilst their pets did not have a direct impact on their recovery; even during counselling, they noticed that their constant company, unconditional love and dependency led to positive outcomes, to the point that a participant expressed that they saved her life, due to deep bond created. The participants’ pets were present during the research interviews, which helped with their nervousness and anxiety. Participants agreed that pets be used in the therapeutic session process since they create a sense of security which is needed in the counselling room. Recommendations elicited include more training for the professionals regarding the use of pets during counselling to increase the feeling of security. Also, further research would be advisable to understand the phenomena of SP.