Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is a type of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, and agoraphobia. It uses different techniques to desensitize phobic fears or obsessions in a safe environment. The therapist teaches a person to tolerate, rather than avoid, the distress caused by certain items, ideas, or imagined scenes. It continues until, over time, the fear subsides. Someone with a fear of flying first approaches the airport, then sits on a plane, and finally books an actual flight. Before treatment they would drive long hours rather than risk a flight. After treatment, they’re confident enough to handle flying. Exposure therapy aids treatment of all anxiety disorders. Also see Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Extinction Learning