I have to do loads of "homework" too. Every week I have tasks to practice, and I have to keep a "spider diary". The funniest task (so my family thought) was when they had to hide a giant plastic spider around the house so I kept coming across it. It was everywhere - under my bed, in the loo, even in a packet of biscuits!
After the videos, we moved onto looking at real spiders. I was dreading it.
We started off looking at really small ones in jam jars, and eventually I had to let them out onto a big tray. I build up to touching their legs gently with my finger. And I've let a small spider (about the size of a penny) run over my hand.
It works
It's the hardest thing I've ever done but it's really working!
I can now get all small and medium spiders on my own without any help. I get them in a glass and throw them outdoors.
I'm still working up to dealing with really huge house spiders, which I'm still really scared of. But I know the therapy works so I reckon I'll crack it soon.
Eight Legged Freaks - here I come. (Arghhhh!)