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12. 07. 12. - 13:00

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12. 07. 12. - 13:00

“Fear of spiders?” workshop at Vienna Zoo

By Jack Denisov

A treatment for fear of spiders is available at Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria in the form of a specialist workshop.

"Every time I saw a spider in my apartment, I would become petrified and would have to ask someone to remove the animal from my apartment." says Iris Semmelmeyer as she describes her fear of spiders.

The 30 year old from Lower Austrian suffered from arachnophobia - a serious fear of spiders. But, she is not alone, nearly 10% of all Austrians become anxious around these creatures. They avoid sitting on any benches in parks, do not go into cellars by themselves and avoid their own gardens.

For Iris Semmelmeyer, however, fear of spiders is now part of her past. What helped her overcome her fear is the course "Fear of Spiders?" that takes place in the Schönbrunn Zoo.

The next session will be on 21 July 2012, last four hours and cost 140 Euro per person (the Zoo admission is included).

The course takes place in a very relaxed atmosphere and is supervised by a certified psychologist and a terrarium curator. The course takes place with other patients and uses tested therapy methods.

"To place yourself with the cause of anxiety in a controlled setting makes the spiders much less of a threat. The participants are always astonished by the results after the four-hour seminar," says Dagmar Schratter, the Zoo director.

Now Iris Semmelmeyer can not only confront the spiders from her apartment, but can even hold tarantula Sissi in her hand, who she met during the four hour long session.

Vienna Times

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