Exposure Therapy

Definition

Exposure therapy is a psychological treatment that helps people confront and reduce fear and anxiety by gradually exposing them to the feared object, situation or traumatic memory in a safe environment.

Related terms

Systematic Desensitization: A type of exposure therapy where a patient is exposed to an anxiety-producing stimulus while simultaneously being engaged in some type of relaxation.

Flooding: A form of exposure therapy where instead of gradual exposure, the person is immediately exposed to their greatest fear until they learn that it's not harmful.

Habituation: The process by which an organism reduces its response to repeated presentations of non-threatening stimuli; this concept underlies how exposure therapy works.