I was housebound for 3 years…
and I found my way back to freedom.
If you’ve tried therapy, medication, or coping strategies and still feel stuck leaving the house…
there is another way to begin again—gently, safely, and at your pace.
You’re not “just anxious.”
You’ve slowly built a life around staying safe.
Certain places feel impossible.
Leaving the house can feel overwhelming… or completely out of reach.
Maybe you’ve tried:
- Therapy
- Medication
- Breathing techniques
- Pushing yourself “just to try”
And still… something isn’t shifting.
Part of you is wondering: “What if this is just my life now?”
I want you to know—it’s not.
My name is Sharon… and I know this experience intimately.
After a traumatic event, my world became smaller and smaller until I was completely housebound for three years.
Not because I didn’t want to go out. But because I couldn’t.
The fear felt real.
The symptoms felt overwhelming.
And nothing I tried seemed to truly change it.
But slowly—step by step— I found a way to understand what was happening in my mind and body…
And more importantly, how to gently retrain it.
I didn’t just manage my agoraphobia. I moved through it.
And now, I help others do the same.
What Makes this Different
This is not about forcing yourself.
This is not about “just pushing through.”
And this is not about coping forever.
This is about:
- Understanding why your brain created this response
- Learning how to work with your nervous system
- Taking real-world steps that actually feel doable
- Expanding your world at your own pace
Because healing from agoraphobia isn’t about becoming fearless— it’s about becoming supported, prepared, and steady… one step at a time.
The Stepping Out Method™
Inside my work, I guide you through a simple, structured approach:
1. Understand the Fear
So it stops feeling confusing and uncontrollable
2. Calm the Body
So your nervous system begins to feel safe again
3. Take Your First Real Steps
With guidance you can follow in real time
4. Expand Your World
Gradually, sustainably, and without overwhelm
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
If you’re ready to begin—even if it feels small—this is your place to start.
Step Out & Into Freedom
A guided program designed to help you begin leaving the house again…
with support, structure, and compassion.
“Sharon exhibits what Sid Wolf, Ph.D described as
“…the inherent ability of every human being to counsel and nurture others.”
Indeed, her comforting support of others is steeped with compassion and empathy. I strongly endorse Sharon’s undertaking to establish a web presence where those seeking counsel will find a truly helpful mentor.”
— Alan Sousie, BSN, M.Ed.
Not quite ready to commit to a full program? That’s okay.
Start Here with Free Training:
Your First Step Outside
A gentle, guided introduction to help you:
- Understand what’s happening in your body
- Learn what to do when fear rises
- Take your very first step toward freedom
Let’s Get You Going!
“It is the mystery of it! Once something makes sense to us and we understand it intellectually, it is no longer a threat or frightening.
Understanding it brings it down to size.
It is the mystery of it, the not knowing, that is the culprit.
We tend to be over thinkers. Once it is understood it is demystified!”
— Sharon McCarthy
My New Book!
Stepping Out
Overcoming Agoraphobia,
Anxiety and Fear
In a deeply human and revealing journey, Sharon shares her highs and lows, setbacks and revelations that lead to her overcoming, living a life free of fear and anxiety, and stepping out and into her freedom.
Available in Paperback & Kindle
You don’t have to do this perfectly.
You don’t have to do this quickly.
You just have to begin.
And I’ll walk with you—every step of the way.
You are not stuck forever.
Your world can expand again.