SPECialist phobia clinic · London & Amsterdam

Feel free again, without bird phobia.

A therapist-guided, focused CBT treatment that helps your brain unlearn your fear – often within 2 sessions.

Book a free introductory call

Or call, Whatsapp or email one of our psychologists

3,500+

patients treated

95%

SIGNIFICANT FEAR REDUCTION
in our clinic*

25 years

OF FEAR RESEARCH

* Results based on routine clinical data from 3,500+ patients treated since 2018. 82% remission, 13% clinically significant improvement at 2–5 month follow-up.

Our team

Our CLINIC

Do you recognise these symptoms of bird phobia?

the effect on your daily life

You avoid squares, parks or outdoor cafés where birds gather. When they come close or fly suddenly, you feel tense and want to move away quickly.

Common symptoms of fear of birds:

Intense fear

Rapid heartbeat

Sweating

Shaking

Staying inside

Urge to run

WHAt’s happening in your brain

Fear of birds, also called ornithophobia, is an intense fear of birds such as pigeons, seagulls, or other birds flying nearby. If you have a fear of birds, you may know that most birds are harmless. Yet your body can react with intense fear when birds fly close to you or suddenly take off.

what we do about it

Our treatment targets the fear at its root — so the automatic reaction stops being triggered in the same way. Most patients notice the difference the very next day.

What people are able to do again after treatment

I avoided situations for years and kept adjusting my life around the fear. Now I just get on with things without thinking about it.

Ron H.

I can sit outside now without constantly watching for birds.

Peter

Thalita’s experience at kindt clinics

“I felt taken seriously and didn’t feel like a client, but simply like someone who wanted to face my fear with guidance.”

Read full review

“I really appreciated the encouragement, and during the second test session photos were taken of me with the birds, which I still really enjoy looking at.”

How the treatment works

Our approach builds on research by Prof. dr. Merel Kindt (University of Amsterdam), who discovered that adding a single dose of medication to a CBT-based approach can accelerate the process – enabling most phobias to be treated in just two sessions.

A psychologist guides you through the process from start to finish.

Two visits, on consecutive days.

before you start

Free 15-minute callYou speak with one of our psychologists. They listen to your situation, answer your questions, and give advice.

01
Online

Diagnostic assessmentWe talk through your fear in depth – what it is, how it affects you, and what would help most. You leave with a clear picture and a treatment recommendation, whether that’s Memrec or something else.

02
DAY one

The treatment session At our clinic, a psychologist guides you through a single session designed around your specific fear. You then take a single dose of a beta blocker, which prevents the fear from being re-stored in the same way.

03
DAY two

Test the effect

You return the next day. Most patients are surprised by what they notice – the automatic fear that was always there is much weaker or no longer there. Together we practise real-life situations to experience that for yourself.

If Memrec isn’t suitableWe find the right approach for youNot every treatment suits every person or every phobia. That’s why we offer different evidence-based approaches, including CBT and exposure therapy. During the intake, your psychologist will advise which option is likely to fit your situation best.

Built on 25 years of fear research

Phobias are learned, not something we are born with. They are irrational fears – intense, automatic, and treated by the brain as if the danger were real. Research published in Nature in 2000 showed that under specific conditions, these fear networks in the brain can become open to change.

Professor Merel Kindt translated this finding into clinical practice. Through her research at the University of Amsterdam, she developed Memrec – a specific form of CBT with the addition of a single medication to target the reconsolidation process.

Kindt Clinics is the first specialist clinic to apply this method outside of academic research. Featured in the Channel 4 documentary The Fear Clinic (2024).

Kindt, M., Soeter, M., & Vervliet, B. (2009). Beyond extinction: erasing human fear responses and preventing the return of fear. Nature Neuroscience, 12, 256–258.

Prof. dr. Merel Kindt
Founder of Kindt Clinics · Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam

Common questions.

Is Memrec suitable for all types of bird phobia?

Memrec works best when the fear is specific and clearly defined, which bird phobia usually is. During the free introductory call, a psychologist will assess whether it is suitable for your situation.

What is the beta blocker and is it safe?

The beta blocker is a widely used medication that normally temporarily reduces the physical stress response. It is taken as a single dose and does not cause sedation. Your psychologist will discuss any contraindications during the assessment.

What if I’m not sure whether I’m ready?

That’s completely normal. The free introductory call is designed exactly for this — just a conversation. Our psychologists are used to helping people think through whether and when treatment feels right for them.

Ready to take the first step?

Speak directly to one of our psychologists.

CALL

+44 20 3667 6233

london@kindtclinics.com

OR BOOK ONLINE