Exposure

Exposure is a technique used in behavioral therapy to treat fear and phobic conditions. This method consists of confronting a person with a situation that causes him fear, so that he can overcome his fear by eliminating it.

Extinction is the process by which fear decreases or disappears when it is no longer associated with the stimulus that caused the fear. In the case of the exposure method, this process is achieved gradually through desensitization or suddenly through immersion.

Desensitization is a process in which a person gradually becomes less sensitive to the stimulus that causes fear. To achieve this, a person is gradually exposed to the stimulus that causes him fear, starting with smaller doses and gradually increasing them.

Immersion is a technique in which a person is exposed to a strong stimulus that causes fear in a controlled environment. This method can be quite effective, but requires certain skills and experience on the part of the therapist.

The intervention method is often used to treat phobias such as social phobia, agoraphobia and other anxiety conditions. It can be used in combination with other methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy to achieve the best results.

Although the treatment method can be effective, it can also be quite complex and sometimes cause discomfort for the patient. Therefore, before using this method, it is necessary to discuss it with your therapist and take into account all possible risks and side effects.

Overall, the intervention is an effective tool for treating fear and phobic conditions, and can help patients achieve significant improvements in quality of life. However, its use should be informed and based on the individual needs of each patient.

Exposure

Exposure in behavior therapy: A method of treating fear that uses techniques to eliminate harmful behavior by gradually or suddenly changing or increasing the exposure situation in which the behavior develops. Usually involves the use of gradual or acute exposure therapy exercises, the so-called Lazarus method of desensitization and conditioning, one of the early developed techniques of F. Skinner. A variation is the technique of “tuning” exteriorization (imitation), which arose shortly after the Lazarus method in the therapeutic elimination of negativism and mood disorders. A popular technique is the so-called. “devaluation of phobias” (E. Aronson), based on establishing the difference between an irrational threat and its failure. It can be considered both as a type of relaxation and as a form of behavior modulation through the formation of new connections. The main task of I. is to “camouflage” frightening or negatively colored stimuli, then gradually eliminate them and naturally transform them into neutral ones, replacing them with familiar ones, which the psychotherapist gradually increases in intensity or sets increasingly stringent requirements for behavior. They usually start with weaker stimuli (for example, images of fish) and offer to look or smell

Impact (exposure) A method of behavioral psychotherapy based on a scientific approach and proven effective in working with many forms of fear, such as fear of heights, fear of public speaking, social phobia and others. The main goal of the method is to help a person overcome a state of fear by gradually increasing the degree of exposure to a stressful situation over a certain period of time. First, the level of impact decreases, causing an effect that counteracts fear, then increases back. Thus, it is gradually possible to achieve the desired level of stress for the patient and get rid of the phobic obsessive state. This approach also helps people learn to manage their emotions and reduce stress in everyday life. The method is mainly used for fear of public speaking - more about this in my article.

Exposure therapy belongs to a group of psychological methods and combines cognitive behavioral psychotherapy and training. The preparation of a psychotherapist, the development of procedures and mechanisms for organizing the necessary environment for the patient is of key importance. Therapy consists of repeated and gradually increasing contact, which can be quickly interrupted. With the help of extrusion, the patient learns to reduce anxiety in front of a situation that causes fear, increasing his level of interaction with it, achieving extrusion of the feeling of fear. The principle of science says that in order to eliminate the negative effect of the microenvironment, it is necessary to increase the unfavorable effect in this environment. This means that first the patient is offered contact (vulnerability) with what frightens him the most. In this case, a stronger reaction is an incentive to resist the situation. It is important to remember that the method is called the method of gradual desensitization (not just from the word calm down). There are three forms of the method - full, general, medial, and there is also an abbreviated form - this is methodological therapy. You can start with a full form of exposure therapy. And gradually master the abbreviated or methodical form. General exposure therapy is best used not by beginners, but by experienced therapists who have confidence in their knowledge and skills. The first sessions of general exposure therapy should begin with the use of medications, the effect of which will gradually decrease. It should be based on supportive activities, say goodbye, and be supervised by a psychotherapist. Attempts at different techniques should be replaced by the open window therapeutic technique.

Two main methods of exposure therapy and their combinations are used (the first, preliminary choice of method is indicated by the abbreviation PTEET in the name of the test). One technique is to gradually draw the client into a fearful environment, another technique is for the client to first experience something and then perform the action that causes anxiety. As the name suggests, exposure can be open (without prior habituation) or closed. It is necessary to combine methods. Communication with the patient must be maintained. It is necessary to meet regularly with him at a new stage of work in order to effectively manage his defense against changes in thinking. Moreover, it is necessary to monitor his level of adaptation between meetings. During therapy, it is important to teach self-management and self-control techniques that the patient needs in everyday life after graduation.

Exposure is a behavioral therapy technique used to treat fear or phobic conditions. This method involves confronting a person with a situation that previously caused him fear, which helps him overcome this fear and develop his abilities to change behavior.

The impact can be applied either gradually, using desensitization, or suddenly, using immersion, depending on the individual characteristics of the person. The purpose of the method is to show the patient that a certain situation does not lead to what he expected, and to help change the person’s negative beliefs to healthier and more beneficial ones.

Mechanisms of influence may include presentation of the problem itself and its causes.