Exposure Therapies

Definition

A psychological treatment that helps people confront their fears. When people are fearful of something, they tend to avoid it. The fear then becomes worse over time. Exposure therapies expose individuals to the things they fear and avoid.

Related terms

Systematic Desensitization:

A type of exposure therapy where a calm state is slowly associated with increasing levels of anxiety-inducing stimuli.

Flooding:

An exposure technique where an individual is exposed to fear-inducing stimuli in a safe environment until their fear subsides.

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET): Uses simulations to help patients confront feared objects or situations.