Emetophobia: Evidence-Based Strategies to Address Fear of Vomiting
July 18, 2025, from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT
Join us for a Live Webinar
2 CE hours available for behavioral health clinicians
Emetophobia—the intense and often hidden fear of vomiting—can be debilitating for clients and perplexing for clinicians. This course provides clear, research-supported strategies to help behavioral health professionals confidently identify and treat this misunderstood anxiety disorder.
If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to support clients struggling with this overwhelming and specific fear, this training will offer clarity and direction through practical, evidence-based tools.
Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-S, brings a wealth of clinical expertise and teaching experience to this training. As the Director of Training for The Renfrew Center and co-author of The Renfrew Unified Treatment for Eating Disorders and Comorbidity, Dr. Smith specializes in anxiety and eating disorders, and is a recognized expert in using CBT, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and the Unified Protocol. Her instruction bridges clinical theory and real-world application.
This course equips clinicians with actionable tools through the use of case examples and step-by-step instruction. You’ll explore how to assess emetophobia, build exposure hierarchies, and guide clients through structured treatment plans that empower them to move beyond fear and avoidance.
Instructor
Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-C (she/her) is a therapist in private practice at CBT of Central & South Florida (https://cbtcentralflorida.com) and a Consulting Clinical Training Specialist for the Renfrew Center. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Qualified Supervisor in the State of Florida. Additionally, she is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Approved Consultant (CEDS-C) and is a Certified Therapist & Trainer of the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP). Special treatment interests include Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction such as Rumination Syndrome, OCD, phobias including emetophobia, health-related anxiety, and coping with chronic pain & chronic illness.
Dr. Smith is passionate about the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based treatments, clinical supervision, and clinical training and has presented numerous lectures, workshops, and Keynote presentations at academic and professional conferences nationally and internationally. She has co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals and is co-author of the peer-reviewed treatment manual and patient workbook, The Renfrew Unified Treatment Model for Eating Disorders and Comorbidity, published by Oxford University Press.
Key Takeaways:
- Clarify the clinical picture: Learn how to recognize the cognitive, behavioral, and physiological markers of emetophobia for more accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Apply interoceptive exposure techniques: Understand how to use bodily-focused exposures to help clients confront and reduce distress.
- Design targeted interventions: Create exposure hierarchies and behavioral experiments tailored to your clients’ unique fear responses.
Why this course?
- Specialized focus on emetophobia: Most CE trainings overlook this specific and impairing anxiety disorder—this course addresses it head-on.
- Expert-led instruction: Dr. Smith’s experience and clinical insight ensure that you’re learning from a leader in the field of emotional disorders.
- Practical, real-world strategies: You’ll leave with concrete methods you can begin using immediately in your sessions.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify key cognitive, behavioral, and physiological features of emetophobia to improve differential diagnosis and case conceptualization.
- Describe how interoceptive exposure can be used to reduce fearful responding around vomiting.
- Develop individualized exposure hierarchies and behavioral experiments to help clients confront and tolerate distressing vomiting-related fears effectively.
For clinicians seeking clarity and competence in treating this highly specific but common fear, this course offers a thoughtful and evidence-based approach. Join us to gain the knowledge and skills to better support your clients and enhance your therapeutic impact.
Credit Hours: CEs provided with this live webinar include 2 continuing education hours of credit.
Counselors: Telehealth Certification Institute LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6693. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0048.
Marriage and Family Therapists: Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations. You can check with your board to determine if this course would be accepted by your licensing board.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0135
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Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0435.
Psychologists: Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.
Other Professionals: This activity qualifies for 120 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.
This is a live, interactive online webinar.
Register for the webinar by midnight before the event. So that we can provide you these CEs, you are required to:
- login and access the direct link to the webinar through your account
- participate fully during the event
- complete a post-test and course evaluation at the conclusion of the event
- collect your certificate of completion on your account after steps 1-3 are completed
Enroll in a course by adding it to the cart and proceeding through the check out process. Create an account (or login to yours) during the checkout process.
Prepare: Download Zoom software. Participants must use a device that is connected to adequate internet speed with a camera, microphone and speakers (or headset).
Attend: At least 15 minutes before the start time the day of the event, login to your account on the website. Go to "My Courses", click on the title/date of the webinar. The link to join the meeting/webinar will be listed in the course content.
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Any recording made of a live event is NOT included with live webinar registration.
When possible, webinars are recorded and converted into online self-study courses, available for separate purchase/enrollment for those who did not attend the live event.