Meet David Kaneria

CBT therapist, Emetophobia specialist, author and founder of Emetophobia UK

If you're considering therapy for emetophobia, it's completely understandable to want to know who you'll be talking to first.

So, before we talk about therapy, let me tell you a little about me.

Why I specialise in emetophobia

I didn't set out to become an emetophobia specialist. In fact, when I first trained as a therapist, I knew very little about it.

During my therapy training, emetophobia was covered in just a couple of slides. I was essentially told that it was a difficult problem to treat and something to leave until I was more experienced.

That didn't sit right with me. So I got interested and started learning.

I began actively seeking out people with emetophobia and reading everything I could about the condition.

The more I learned, the more fascinated I became. I started hearing the stories of the people living with it.

People who couldn't eat normally. People who avoided holidays, restaurants, public transport and social events.

People whose lives had gradually become smaller and smaller because of their fear.

That's what made me want to specialise.

I wanted to be apart of the solution and help people overcome it and regain their life.

A little about me

I'm David Kaneria

I'm a CBT therapist, husband, dad and someone who genuinely enjoys helping people understand how their minds work.

Outside of therapy, I'm probably spending time with my family, drinking a coffee or finding some excuse to sit down and write more about emetophobia.

I'm naturally quite curious. My family and friends always roll their eyes when I come out with a random fact that is only interesting to myself. I like understanding why things work and when something doesn't make sense, I tend to keep digging until I understand it.

I think that's probably one of the reasons I became so interested in emetophobia.

I am:

A HUSBAND
Family is important to me. I have an amazing wife who means everything to me.

A DAD
I am a girl dad to the cutest little thing on the planet and have a second one on the way. I know how important it is to protect the things that matter to you.

A WRITER
I enjoy turning complicated psychology into something people can actually understand.

THERAPIST
And I love seeing people get their lives back.

What am I actually like as a therapist?

I believe therapy is about two people coming together as a team. One an expert in treating emetophobia, the other an expert in living with emetophobia. Therapy is about joining forces to figure out how to make therapy work for you.

During this process, my job is to understand you, understand your emetophobia and then work with you to figure out what is keeping it going.

I'll explain what we're doing and why we're doing it.

I'll challenge you when I think anxiety is getting in the way.

I'll listen when something doesn't feel right.

And we'll work together rather than me simply telling you what to do.

My clients have described me as:

Cheerful
I always come to a session with a smile. Therapy can be difficult, and I want our sessions to feel like a positive part of your week.

Understanding
I don't just want to hear what you're struggling with, I want to understand it. I always try take the time to listen to your experiences and understand how emetophobia affects your life.

Knowledgeable
My clients often tell me they can tell how much I understand emetophobia despite the fact I don’t have it myself. I specialise in treating emetophobia and have spent years learning about the condition and how to treat it effectively.

Approachable

You don't need to worry about saying the “wrong” thing in therapy. I try to create an environment where you can be open and honest, without feeling judged.

My professional background

It can be hard to find a good therapist for emetophobia. This is made harder by the fact that legally anyone in the UK can call themselves a CBT therapist without needing any qualifications. This means you could be charged for really expensive sessions with someone who does not have the expertise, knowledge or experience that you really need. If you are looking for a real CBT therapist like myself, make sure they are accredited by the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). This means they have completed CBT training at a university level, had real hands on experience, undergo yearly top up training and agree to work within a strong ethical framework to put you, the client first.

My BABCP Membership Number: 1005481 < -Check the register‍ ‍by using this number or typing in my name - David Kaneria

Extensive experience:

I have years of years of experience as a therapist within the NHS, the medicolegal sector and in private practice.
Written 7 mental health books, including a textbook on how to treat emetophobia.
I work daily with those with emetophobia and often see between 20-40 people at a time.

If you're looking for a therapist, qualifications and experience matter.

So here's mine.

I have four university degree’s in psychology:

University degree - Bachelor of Science (BSc Hons) in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology.
University degree - Master of Science (MSc) in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience.
University degree - Postgraduate (PG Cert) in Low Intensity CBT.
University degree - Postgraduate (PG Cert) in High Intensity CBT.

I wrote a book on treating emetophobia

As I learned more about emetophobia, I realised there was a problem.

There wasn't enough practical guidance for therapists who wanted to help people with this condition. My own degree consisted of just a few slides on a PowerPoint.

So I decided to write it.

Emetophobia: The Complete Guide for CBT Therapists is a practical textbook designed to help therapists understand emetophobia and treat it effectively.

I also provide training and resources for therapists working with emetophobia.

This is my favourite part of the job.

Every now and then, I get an email from someone I've worked with.

They tell me about something they have just done that once would have terrified them.

They went on holiday, or ate at a restaurant. Maybe they looked after their child when they were unwell or they felt nauseous and didn't panic.

And sometimes they tell me “I was sick but I wasn't afraid.”

These emails always mean a lot to me because that's what recovery is really about.

Not spending your life trying to make sure you never feel anxious.

Getting your life back.

Client experiences

I always try to give my clients the best experience I can. Often they give me great feedback in person but on occasion they have left some lovely online reviews. Here is just a small selection.

“I have a lot to thank David for. I’ve battled with a level of emetophobia for as long as I can remember and now I’m finally free of it. My life has changed so much since having therapy, I’m now able to comfort my children when they are ill, I didn’t spend the whole of last sick season with sore hands and an anxious tummy and I’m just generally so much more relaxed with life. One hundred percent recommend, it will change your whole life”

— A clients five star google review

“David is one of those rare CBT specialists who understands emetophobia and what actually helps. Heartily recommend if you or a loved one are struggling with this often misunderstood disorder.”