Driving fear help? (Charlotte: school, car, counselor)

[southbysw]

Can anyone give me references for driving fear support groups or counselors who specialize in this here in the Charlotte area?

[mullman]

As in someone that has a phobia, of sorts, of driving?

[nascarnancy]

Hmmm, interesting....

I once worked with a gal who had been in an auto accident and had to have neck surgery, she was making a left hand turn and was hit. She wouldn't make left hand turns, for years! Eventually she got better.

As "NASCAR" Nancy I would suggest Richard Petty's driving school, but that wouldn't be right. But hey, maybe a hot lap around the track might do it.

OK, serioulsy, I guess I would have to ask exactally what is the phobia? Freeways, speed, others driving around you, being in the car itself a small space?

[Orangeish]

Is it just fear of driving in Charlotte itself? Or anywhere. I'll admit driving can be a bit dicey in the city itself sometimes. And to quote Seinfeld from the perspective of an outsider, "whats the deal" with all these Uturns? It took me a week of narrowly avoiding rear ending the guy in front of me in the left turn lane to get used to this

[southbysw]

It's my wife who grew up in NYC and never really had to learn until now. It seems more she's afraid of the freeways and speed. But driving in general gets her very nervous. We've tried just practicing a lot, but it hasn't seemed to ease the fear any. I was looking for recommendations of counselors who maybe speciailze in phobias.

[brokensky]

Gosh, there is a program for de-sensitizing people with phobias and there is someone or some group that does it here in Charlotte! But I can't remember how to get in touch with them. I know someone who went thru/ this de-sensitization program but she is out of town this weekend, so I won't be able to get the info from her til the first of the week. If no one else posts some info to help direct you to a counselor, I will try to remember to come back and post the info early next week.