Dr. Justin D’Arienzo on Discovery Channel’s Shark Week 2026 | My Strange Shark Addiction

Posted by: Dr. Justin D'Arienzo, Psy.D., ABPP

Dr. D'Arienzo on Shark Week. Discovery Channel

Dr. Justin D’Arienzo Treats Shark Phobia on Discovery Channel’s Shark Week 2026

Dr. Justin D’Arienzo, Psy.D., MSCP, ABPP, was featured on Discovery Channel’s Shark Week 2026 special My Strange Shark Addiction, which premiered July 31, 2026. In the program, Dr. D’Arienzo helped Casey confront his severe shark phobia, or galeophobia, using progressive exposure and behavioral techniques. The episode transcript documents Casey’s trip from Oregon to work with Dr. D’Arienzo and follows their work together as Casey confronted his fear of sharks.

For Discovery Channel’s Shark Week 2026, I worked with Casey to help him confront a longstanding and severe fear of sharks. Through a psychologist-led process using systematic desensitization, progressive exposure, anxiety-management skills, diaphragmatic breathing, positive self-talk, and repeated real-world exposure, Casey was able to gradually face situations that had previously caused significant fear.

Our work took place over three intensive days in Marathon and Islamorada in the Florida Keys. The experience progressed from preparing for shark-related exposure to confronting Casey’s fear in increasingly realistic settings, ultimately helping him become more comfortable around sharks and at the beach.

Specific phobias such as galeophobia can feel overwhelming, but they are also highly treatable. Effective treatment involves helping the brain and body learn, through repeated and appropriately structured exposure, that the feared situation can be tolerated without avoidance. With the right psychological skills, sufficient exposure, and professional guidance, people can substantially reduce the control a phobia has over their lives.

It was incredibly rewarding to watch Casey commit himself fully to the process. By the end of our work together, he had made meaningful progress toward being able to comfortably bring his family to the beach for vacations without his longstanding fear of sharks controlling the experience. It was an experience of a lifetime for me as well, and an honor to be part of Discovery Channel’s Shark Week.

The photographs below were taken during filming in the Florida Keys, including Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters in Marathon and Theater of the Sea in Islamorada, as well as during the trip home through Miami International Airport.

Discovery Channel Episode: My Strange Shark Addiction

Read the My Strange Shark Addiction Episode Transcript

Learn More About Treating Shark Phobia (Galeophobia) and Other Phobias