Mia Rides Her Scooter on the Paths, But Can't Even Park It Near the Lawn. Why?
Updated: May 2026.
* child’s name has been changed
Our young client experienced intense fear, bordering on panic. She was afraid of insects, spiders, and snakes. As she grew older, the situation worsened: the list of feared objects kept growing, while her desire to go on summer walks and spend time in nature steadily decreased.
The Animago therapist identified several phobias* in Mia, with the root being a fear of mosquitoes that developed when she was 3 years old — triggered by adults’ comments like “a mosquito will bite you” and “the mosquitoes will get you“.
The girl also experienced myoclonic jerks (body twitches) during sleep, talked in her sleep, and had nightmares. Once she dreamed of tarantulas, woke up crying, and was very upset that “everyone had died.”
The phobias intensified each time the level of stress in the girl’s life increased.
During sessions, the Animago therapist and Mia worked on reducing anxiety and building gradual exposure to insects and animals.
After a course of therapeutic sessions, the fear had significantly reduced. Mia began asking her parents to put on documentaries about insects. And when she spotted a large plush spider in a shop, instead of being afraid as before, she said: “How cute!”
Phobias are a form of anxiety disorder — an excessive fear of a specific object or situation that activates the child’s fight-flight-freeze response and creates a sense of danger far beyond what the situation actually warrants.
Phobias respond well to therapy. The sooner parents reach out, the fewer trigger situations the child accumulates and the faster relief comes. We teach children how to recognize this fear and how to manage it on their own.