Pediatric Needle Phobia Clinic: A 3 Day Program

Dates: April 21st – April 23rd (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of April Break)

Times: 10am-12pm

Additional Parent Component: Wednesday, April 22nd from 11am-12pm

Our Pediatric Needle Phobia Clinic is a brief, structured intervention designed to support children and adolescents who experience significant anxiety, fear, or avoidance related to needles, blood draws, or injections. Many young people struggle with these procedures, and for some, symptoms of needle phobia can interfere with necessary medical care. This three-day clinic is grounded in evidence-based protocols for needle phobia and exposure therapy, with a focus on helping participants build practical coping skills, gradually reduce avoidance, and increase their confidence when facing needle-related situations.

The clinic is appropriate for youth who experience distress around routine or medically necessary procedures such as vaccinations, lab work, or injections. Needle-related anxiety and needle phobia can emerge in a variety of contexts. For example, some children may become overwhelmed when they have upcoming vaccination appointments, while others may struggle due to ongoing medical needs that require regular injections, such as diabetes management or GLP-1 medications. Additional challenges may arise for youth who need periodic or frequent blood draws to monitor health conditions, or for those who experience difficulty tolerating dental procedures that involve needles. Regardless of the specific context, avoidance associated with needle phobia can increase anxiety over time, making future procedures even more difficult. This program is designed to interrupt that cycle in a supportive, developmentally appropriate way.

The program runs over three consecutive days, with each daily session lasting two hours. This format allows for intensive, focused skill-building while maintaining a short-term commitment that is manageable for families. In addition, caregivers participate in a one-hour parent guidance session on need phobia. This component is an important part of the program, as it provides parents with tools and strategies to support their child both during and after the clinic. Topics may include how to respond to anxiety, how to reinforce coping behaviors, and how to reduce unintentional reinforcement of avoidance that can maintain needle phobia over time.

Participants are grouped by developmental level to ensure that all material is presented using age-appropriate language, pacing, and activities for needle phobia challenges. Throughout the clinic, children and teens learn and practice a range of coping strategies, such as relaxation techniques, cognitive strategies, and gradual exposure exercises. These skills are introduced in a step-by-step manner, allowing participants to build mastery and confidence over time. Emphasis is placed on helping youth understand their anxiety and develop a sense of control in situations that previously felt overwhelming due to needle phobia.

A unique feature of the program is the inclusion of a live, in-office blood draw demonstration on the final day, conducted by a licensed phlebotomist. This experience provides participants with the opportunity to apply their newly learned skills for their needle phobia in a realistic and supportive environment. The goal is not to force participation, but rather to offer a structured opportunity for practice, helping to bridge the gap between learning skills and using them in real-world medical settings.

Overall, this program is designed to reduce distress around needle-related procedures while promoting long-term engagement with necessary healthcare. By targeting both the emotional and behavioral components of needle phobia, the clinic aims to help children and adolescents feel more capable, prepared, and confident in managing these experiences moving forward.

Please complete this inquiry form if interested in participating, or email Dr. Ashley Brown at ABrown@concordcbt.com if you have any questions or would like to learn more about the program. For information on other Behavioral Medicine Services and Consultations at The Concord Center, please visit this page.