Freedom to Fly Workshop
Workshops held at Westchester County Airport, NY
Next start date will be Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Registration will begin December 1, 2024
Consider the true cost of your fear. Avoiding air travel means resigning yourself to missed vacations, family gatherings, and other priceless experiences. For those who have to travel for business, your career may be in jeopardy. Don’t let your fears keep you grounded!
Our workshop consists of four group meetings, two via zoom and two held at Westchester County Airport, White Plains. The meetings are held on Wednesdays, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. At the end of the two sessions held at the airport, the class is escorted onto a stationary plane when possible. This “exposure/desensitization” in the plane is part of the cognitive-behavioral therapy model on which the workshop is based. Also, as part of the workshop, clients have four hours of individual sessions with one of our certified Phobia Counselors. These hours are scheduled at mutually convenient times during the weeks of the workshop.
The workshop concludes with a “graduation flight” from LaGuardia to Boston and return. The flight schedule TBD.. to The workshop concludes with a “graduation flight” on Thursday, August 22 from Washington D.C. and return.
The group workshop coordinator is Judy Chessa, LMSW, former director of The Anxiety & Phobia Center at St. VIncent’s and White Plains Hospital. She will be joined by three former anxiety counselors from the former Center, as well as a professional pilot and airport security staff. An initial intake with the coordinator is required.
In the workshop, you will learn anxiety management techniques, plus the facts about how a plane flies. The focus of the group is on learning how to become a comfortable flyer. Whether you fly frequently or haven’t flown in years, the group can help you overcome your fears and become a frequent flyer.
Please email jllakechessa@gmail.com for more information and registration.
From our clients:
“I have attempted something I’ve avoided with great fear for close to 11 years.”
—K.
“Never have I felt so acknowledged and supported. The workshop helped me recognize myself as more capable than I ever thought I could be.”
—E.W.
“I am in Mexico! The flight went well, and I used many of my tools successfully. Thanks to all of you. I couldn’t have done it without the Freedom to Fly program.”
— A.M.
“I feel like I have the necessary tools to fly with less anxiety and my anticipatory anxiety has been much less.”
—T.A.
“ I have a better understanding of how and why I react and what tools I can use to reduce my levels.”
—J.W.
“Understanding that ‘discomfort’ is not danger.”
—D.P.
Join us! Class size is limited. Please contact jllakechessa@gmail.com for more information re: fees and registration.