Defining Exposure Therapy: A Psychological Treatment utilized to assist people in confronting their fears.
Rationale: “When people are fearful of something, they tend to avoid the feared objects, activities or situations. Although this avoidance might help reduce feelings of fear in the short term, over the long term it can make the fear become even worse.” (APA.org)
Goal: “The goal of exposure therapy is to create a safe environment in which a person can reduce anxiety, decrease avoidance of dreaded situations, and improve one’s quality of life.” (WebMD.com)
What Conditions Can It Help With?
How Does It Work (from Healthline.com)
(1) “Once the cause of your fear or anxiety has been identified, your therapist or psychologist will start the process by exposing you to the feared stimulus. (2) Often, they use a graded approach, where they start by exposing you to a mildly feared stimulus or a mild version of your stimulus. (3) Over time, your therapist will expose you to more feared stimuli in a safe environment. (4) The number of sessions and length of time your treatment will take depends on your progress.”
Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates is a St Louis mental health therapy practice in Creve Coeur, Missouri. The practice has a team of mental health therapists who provide therapy and counseling services to kids, teens, adults, couples, and families. Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates specializes in stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, and other mental health related issues and concerns. The practice can be reached by phone at: 314-942-1147, by email at: bryan@stlmentalhealth.com
