the Behavioural Approach to Treating Phobias

• counterconditioning


  when a patient is taught, through classical conditioning, a new association that runs counter to the original association
• systematic desensitisation (SD)


  a form of behavioural therapy whereby a client is gradually exposed to the phobic stimulus using a hierarchy, under relaxed conditions until the anxiety reaction is extinguished
• three stages of systematic desensitisation

  1. anxiety hierarchy: list of situations relating to phobic stimulus arranged in order from least to most frightening
  2. relaxation: train client in deep relaxation techniques e.g. breathing exercises, mental imagery, muscle relaxation, anti-anxiety drugs. reciprocal inhibition=relaxation prevents the emotion of fear
  3. exposure: work through hierarchy using relaxation techniques until client is ready to confront real fear
• flooding 


  a form of behavioural therapy whereby a client is exposed to an extreme form of the phobic stimulus under relaxed conditions until the anxiety reaction is extinguished