THE FEAR OF FLYING CLINIC
A Non-Profit Support Organization, Soaring Since 1976
Jody Yarborough, Chairwoman
Jody is a proud graduate of the Clinic and the FOFC Chairwoman. Nothing less than "transformed" by her experience in the Clinic, Jody volunteers for FOFC, sharing her personal experience and leadership skills to FOFC's operations, hopefully helping as many people's lives as possible. "I love it when people make the decision to change their life. To see people then have the courage to do the hard work that needs to be done to achieve success is so rewarding."
Paula Zimmerman, Vice-Chair and Therapist
Paula is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in Burlingame, California. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety in her work with the Fear of Flying Clinic. Through her 25 years providing cognitive behavioral therapy for the FOFC, she has developed an unparalleled understanding of the emotional complexities and real-life complications specific to flying phobias. She finds immense fulfillment in watching our clients succeed—often surprising themselves with their progress! Our counselor oversees the course's CBT elements, but is present for all components of the clinic. On our Graduation Flight, she is an on-board essential support, working closely with our clients to help them draw upon an arsenal of new coping tools and self-reliance. Paula's end goal is unwavering: to empower our fliers to alleviate their own anxieties, and to re-learn flight as a comfortable experience.
Lance Shoemaker, Treasurer
Lance Shoemaker, J.D., is an instructor at West Valley College and a 2016 graduate of the Clinic. As someone who loves to travel overseas every year, Lance's fear of flying was a severe impairment and held him back from certain travel opportunities. After being sick and tired of being tense and nauseous on flights due to unnecessary nervousness, Lance decided to reach out to the Clinic. Since finishing the Clinic, Lance has become much more comfortable flying on planes and is grateful to the Clinic for changing his understanding and attitude about flying.
Irfan Siddiqui,
Secretary
Irfan Siddiqui is a retired office manager for a Cardiology clinic in San Jose, California additionally our newest Board member. Irfan attended our Clinic after many Amtrak trips. Somehow, somewhere Irfan developed a fear of flying and stopped flying since 1998. He made every excuse not to fly and took trains or just decided against going. But, after attending the Clinic in 2017 October and taking the graduation flight to Seattle he gained the confidence and was ready to fly again and encourage all the upcoming members of FOFC to fly and support them in any way he can.
Justine Tideman, PhD, Therapist
Justine is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in San Francisco, CA. She is a big supporter of the Fear of Flying Clinic because of it's friendly staff, use of proven therapeutic techniques, and successful outcomes. Justine specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her private practice. She enjoys helping people to change the way they think, so they can change the way they feel, and do the things that previously seemed impossible. As a member of the Fear of Flying Clinic, she is particularly drawn to the opportunity to witness the transformation as Clinic attendees leave behind old fears and embrace new ways of coping that allow them to live the life they truly want - and to literally fly.
Follin Key, PhD,
Therapist
Follin is a licensed clinical psychologist who works at Kaiser Permanente. She has specialized in the evaluation and treatment of anxiety disorders for almost 20 years because early on she witnessed the extraordinary effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in opening choices for individuals whose worlds have been shrunk by anxiety-related avoidance. A great deal of evidence exists supporting CBT as the best treatment for anxiety; in her clinical work Follin has helped people learn and apply these principles, and has seen how much change occurs in their lives when they find the courage to approach and overcome their fears. She also loves to travel, so helping people overcome flying phobias is particularly meaningful. She is excited to bring her expertise to the Fear of Flying Clinic and to support clients in challenging the thoughts that generate fears, and in proving to themselves that they are stronger than their anxiety.
Karol Hansen, Moderator and Office Assistant
Karol, born in Walnut Creek, California in 1954, holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from California State University and currently manages her family's manufactured home park in Concord. Early in her career, she was mentored in independent travel by an experienced woman traveler, who unfortunately lost her life in the worst aviation accident in U.S. history in 1979. For many years, Karol coped with a significant fear of flying, utilizing medication and alternative forms of transportation. In 2025, after completing the Fear of Flying Clinic program, she joined its Board and now volunteers as a moderator in its workshops and clinics. Through her involvement, she has witnessed remarkable progress among participants and now travels by air with increased confidence.
Keith Koch,
Ret. Pilot
Keith is a native of San Francisco and has lived on the Peninsula his entire life. He spent 40 years as an airline pilot, the last 38 years with Hawaiian Airlines. He has flown over 25,000 hours in five different airliners types and has flown extensively in the Pacific, Asia, Oceania, and domestically. His first airplane flight was at 8 years old and since then he always wanted to be a pilot. He considers himself lucky to have had his childhood dream become a reality. Now retired, he enjoys volunteering as an instructor and BOD member with the Fear Of Flying Clinic SFO. He has also spent the last 22 years volunteering with Bay Area eTc, a local non-profit family theater company on the Peninsula where he helps to build sets, coordinate logistics and serves on the BOD.
Jeff Berry,
Pilot
Jeff Berry is a First Officer with United Airlines. He started flying in high school and studied aeronautics in college at St. Louis University. His aviation career progressed through the civilian ranks, and he joined United Airlines in 1999. He’s flown the B-737, A-320 and is currently flying the B-757/767. From 2003-2006 he was furloughed from United, so he took that time to earn his law degree and worked in the healthcare industry. He started volunteering for the Fear of Flying Clinic about two years ago, and in addition to sharing his knowledge and love of flight from a pilot’s perspective, he has also traveled extensively as a passenger. He feels this gives him a good perspective of what the experience is on the other side of the cockpit door.
Daniel Stillini,
Pilot
A native of Colorado, Daniel earned a Masters in Music Education from UNC-Chapel Hill and began his professional life as a High School Band Director. After three wonderful years of teaching, he put down the conducting baton in pursuit of his other dream of becoming an airline pilot. Daniel built flight time and experience flying medical specimens for analysis, ferrying general aviation aircraft across the country, and flight instructing. Following a year of teaching international students to fly, Daniel worked his way to Captain on the Embraer 175 at Compass Airlines, and in 2019, he became a First Officer at United Airlines flying the Airbus A320 and Boeing 777. He took the helm as A320 Captain in 2024 and continues to enjoy the view from the left seat.
Stephen Perry,
Pilot
Stephen is a First Officer at United Airlines flying the Airbus A320 series. He has been an Airline Pilot for 8 years and has held positions of Captain and First Officer at multiple airlines and on multiple aircraft. He came to flying when he was a Junior in college, disenchanted by the world of Finance. He decided to give flying a try and was drawn to it immediately. Growing up an Alpine Ski Racer, it combined his love for speed and precision with his obsession with high-tech machines. Stephen worked as a Flight Instructor before becoming an Airline Pilot and even taught aerobatics (flying upside-down!) Stephen truly loves to fly, and even more to share that love with others. He brings that passion to the clinic in hopes that someday you will love to fly too!
Julie Hingsbergen, LMFT, Therapist
Julie Hingsbergen, LMFT, is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist with her private practice, Reframe CBT located in Marin County. She specializes in treating anxiety disorders, phobias, and OCD using evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). She is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Fear of Flying Clinic at SFO and to contribute to a program that helps people face fears and expand their possibilities. Overcoming a fear of flying can open the door to meaningful experiences!
John Montopoli,
LMFT, LPCC, Therapist
John is a licensed psychotherapist in San Francisco. He is the founder of Pacific CBT, a group psychotherapy practice focused on the evidence-based treatment of anxiety, depression, and OCD. Their office is located in San Francisco, but they also see clients from all parts of California. John is certified with the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. In addition to his clinical work as a CBT therapist, John has had a love of commercial aviation from a young age. Before his career as a mental health professional, he was a flight attendant for United Airlines and Pan Am. John looks for every opportunity to take an airline flight because of his love for air travel.
In Memoriam
Mark Connell, Ret. Pilot
FOFC lost a dedicated volunteer and friend this year. Mark Connell was a Captain for United Airlines and volunteered for FOFC for nearly two decades and helped hundreds of fearful flyers face their fears about flying. He was one of several trusted commercial airline pilots who work with the FOFC to present clients with information on the principles of aviation, the built-in safety rigors of commercial flight, and to address any and all questions asked by course attendees. When Mark wasn't flying, he enjoyed time with his wife, Andrea, also a pilot and their two grown children.