Dr. Alexandra Keyes
Dr Alexandra Keyes is a clinical psychologist, cognitive behavioural psychotherapist and researcher. She trained at the Institute of Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College Lon...
Select an answer to get started
Who are you and what is your background?
Hi, I am Alexandra Keys. I'm a clinical psychologist and cognitive behavioural psychotherapist. I trained at the Institute of Psychiatry, psychology and Neuroscience based at Kings College London. Now I'm based at South London and Mosley, NHS Foundation Trust, based at the Morsey Hospital in Camberwell, Denmark Hill.
Why did you decide to focus on emetophobia as your specialism?
Well, I think most mental health professionals are human beings and we have experiences like everybody else and can go through some difficult things. I myself can certainly relate to that. I have lived experience of a meta phobia when I was a child, which certainly sort of drove my passions and interests in life and took me into the field of psychology. And then I was fortunate enough to meet David Ve, who was doing some research in a Met phobia when I was doing my doctoral training at King's College London. And the rest is history. I'm really passionate about it and I really want to help other people who are experiencing it too.
What is emetophobia, and how is it different from a fear of vomiting?
So a met phobia is a really intense fear and preoccupation with both nausea and also vomiting. It's extremely debilitating and can often have a really significant impact on the people's lives of those who suffer with it. It's not just a fear of vomiting, which is very common and that most of us have. A lot of us don't like vomiting. But a Met phobia is a recognised mental health condition that is often much more disabling and distressing for people.