Des Clarke's Journey from Fear of Heights to 165 foot Abseil
Discover the inspiring journey of Scottish presenter Des Clarke as he faces a lifelong fear of heights. Guided by our Director, Alison Barr, this case study demonstrates the transformative power of professional Exposure Therapy and Phobia Therapy.
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Des's Big Drop
On 15th September 2023, Scottish Presenter and Comedian, Des Clarke, was challenged to abseil down the iconic Forth Rail Bridge to raise money for the charity ‘Global’s Make Some Noise’. He reluctantly agreed, and the date was set for 8th October, just 23 days later! The abseil was thereafter known as ‘Des’s Big Drop’.
The Challenge: A Debilitating Fear of Heights
What you may not know is that at the time, Des had a debilitating fear of heights (Acrophobia), caused by traumatic childhood experiences. During those 23 days, Des worked intensely with Alison Barr (Psychotherapist & Director of The Green Rooms) to overcome his fear.
Des has spoken openly about his fear, which began when he was a young boy living on the 22nd floor of a Glasgow tower block. He witnessed tragic events and had recurring nightmares for years. Children make sense of their experiences using child logic; in this case, the logic was that heights were life-threatening. When an adult faces their childhood fear, they can use adult maturity and logic to remove the power it once held.
Exposure Therapy and Phobia Therapy Explained
- Talking Therapy: Addressing the root trauma and reframing childhood beliefs.
- ‘In Real Life’ (IRL) Exposure: Gradually facing heights in the physical world.
- ‘Virtual Reality’ Exposure: Using VRET to simulate heights safely.
Alison slowly and carefully exposed Des to increasing levels of perceived danger, ensuring he was safe at all times. When Des was fully comfortable with one level, he and Alison moved onto the next.
The Exposure Therapy Challenges
Heart Radio filmed some of Des’s challenges and shared them on Instagram.
IRL Challenge 1: Floor-to-Ceiling Window, 8 Floors Up (Day 6) The first challenge was to look out the studio’s 8th floor window. Even though there was a window preventing him from falling, Des’s phobia kicked in and he wanted to step away.
IRL Challenge 2: The World’s Tallest Glass Lift (Day 11) After more therapy with Alison, Des and his co-host Jennifer Reoch visited Cineworld in Glasgow, home of the world’s tallest glass lift. Des did very well to remain calm, though the physical tension was evident.
Virtual Reality Challenge: The Skyscraper Ledge (Days 2 to 16) Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy is amazing technology for treating phobias. It tricks your brain into thinking a situation is real while you remain safe. Alison and Des used a VR app which allowed them to go to the top of a city skyscraper and step onto an outside ledge. In Alison’s office, Des built up confidence, eventually walking from the lift onto the outside platform.
Stepping off the Skyscraper
Live on air during the Heart Radio Breakfast Show (Day 17), Des was challenged to step off the ledge. Alison told him to imagine he was attached to an abseil harness, just like the one he would wear on the big day. Alison set the app to ensure Des would float in mid-air and not fall. Des stepped off the platform and felt elated!
IRL Challenge 3: Indoor Abseiling (Day 19) Des and Jennifer visited a climbing wall to learn indoor abseiling. Alison ensured Des felt as ready as possible by minimising his fear of the unknown. They abseiled 10 metres down the wall, and Des gained confidence that abseiling under professional guidance is safe.
IRL Challenge 4: Return to Childhood High Flats (Day 22) In a deeply personal part of the therapy, Des visited a block of flats similar to his own. Guided by Alison, he used his adult self to re-frame his childhood experience and reclaim control over the environment that originally sparked his phobia.
The Result: The Forth Rail Bridge Abseil (Day 23)
The Build-Up: Nerves and Preparation The Met Office issued an amber weather warning the day before, and the nerves were palpable among the crew.
The Triumph: 165 Feet Down Despite the wild weather, the Exposure Therapy and Phobia Therapy provided by Alison Barr held firm. Des not only completed the 165-foot abseil, he enjoyed it!
Expert Support at The Green Rooms
In the final stages of Exposure Therapy and Phobia Therapy, Alison Barr introduced a pivotal step: returning to a setting that mirrored Des’s childhood environment.
This was not merely about facing heights; it was about Memory Reconsolidation. By visiting a similar block of flats as a grounded, supported adult, Des was able to “update” the old, fearful data stored in his brain from his time living on the 22nd floor. Under Alison’s guidance, he replaced the child-logic association of “height equals life-threatening danger” with the adult-logic reality of “I am safe and in control.” This re-framing was the final piece of the puzzle that allowed him to step onto the Forth Rail Bridge with confidence rather than terror.
Des completed our ‘Fear of Heights. specialist programme. Alison Barr is our sole practitioner for Exposure Therapy and Phobia Therapy, offering this support in Newton Mearns and online.
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