Exposure Therapy for Phobias

Exposure therapy is a well-established psychological treatment for phobias (like emetophobia, claustrophobia, arachnophobia, dental phobia, etc.) that involves gradually and systematically facing objects or situations clients fear in a safe and controlled way, with the goal of reducing anxiety over time. The process typically begins with an assessment to identify the specific phobia and develop a fear hierarchy, which ranks feared scenarios from least to most anxiety-provoking. Exposure can take different forms, including real-life (in vivo), imagined (imaginal), or interoceptive (exposure to physical sensations). As individuals face their fears repeatedly, they become less anxious overall and learn that the feared outcomes are unlikely or are able to be managed skillfully.