What is Exposure Therapy?

When we fear something, our natural response is to avoid the feared object, activity or situation. While this can help to reduce feelings of fear in the short term, it can worsen the fear over a longer-term period. 

Exposure therapy is a treatment designed to help people confront their fears in a safe environment. It can help a person to break the pattern of fear and avoidance, which ultimately helps to reduce long-term fear and decreases avoidant behavior.

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What is Exposure Therapy Used to Treat?

Exposure therapy has proven itself as a valuable therapeutic treatment for a range of conditions. Some of the most common include:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
• Panic Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Phobias and fears

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Types of Exposure Therapy

If you’re wondering how long does exposure therapy take, it’s important to note that there are no set timeframes, but results are typically seen in 2-3 months. Exposure therapy comes in a variety of ways, and your therapist will talk you through these to help you determine which is most suitable for your needs. Some of these include: 

• Interoceptive Exposure

This involves the intentional experiencing of feared physical sensations. It’s a great technique for those who struggle with panic disorders or other anxiety disorders. An example of this treatment could involve being instructed to run in place, causing the individual’s heart to speed up, proving this sensation isn’t dangerous and doesn’t cause a risk to their life. 

• In Vivo Exposure

This treatment involves directly facing a situation, object or activity that causes fear – in real life. For instance, someone with a phobia of spiders could be instructed to hold a spider. 

• Virtual Reality Exposure

When in vivo exposure is not appropriate or unavailable, virtual reality technology can be used. A good example of this is a person with a fear of flying may be asked to take a virtual flight in the presence of their counselor. During this session, equipment will be used to provide the sensory experience of a plane journey, allowing the client to face their fears in a controlled environment.

• Imaginal Exposure

This form of treatment involves asking the client to imagine the situation, activity or object that causes them fear. This is particularly useful for those with post traumatic stress disorder. This treatment involves vividly recalling or describing the traumatic experience or event, with the goal of reducing the feelings of fear around the subject.

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The Benefits of Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy as a therapeutic treatment is believed to help in a number of ways:

• Emotional Processing

Being exposed to an activity, situation or object that causes fear can support the client in learning to develop new, realistic beliefs around the matter. It can aid the client in becoming more comfortable with feelings of fear and anxiety when the perceived threat has a more realistic slant to it.

• Self-Efficacy

Exposure therapy helps a client to understand they are capable of confronting their fears, which can be incredibly empowering and help in managing future feelings of anxiety.

• Habituation

Through repeated exposure, many people find their fearful reaction to the object, activity or situation decreases.

• Extinction

The use of exposure therapy can help weaken learned associations between a feared activity, object or situation and an inherently bad outcome. It allows for a more realistic and logical mindset towards the perceived threat or fear.

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Take Our Quiz

If you’re still wondering “how does exposure therapy work?” Let us help. Westchester Therapy Match wants to make sure that you’re matched with the right exposure therapist. 

We have created a simple quiz that takes less than five minutes to complete. We will use your answers to understand who you are and what you’re looking for so we can match you with the most appropriate therapist. Click here to take the quiz. 

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