Beh app to treating phobias

• Systematic Desensitisation 


  A behavioural therapy designed to reduce a response to a stimulus.

  Works off the principle of classical conditioning.

  Learning to relax in the presence of the stimulus - learning a new response.
• Counter-conditioning 


  This technique pairs a feared or anxiety-provoking stimulus with a positive or enjoyable experience / the learning of a different response to the stimulus e.g relaxation instead of anxiety.
• Reciprocal inhibition 


  Anxiety being inhibited by a feeling or response that is not compatible with the feeling of anxiety. It doesn't allow you to feel two emotions at once so anxiety and relaxation can't be felt at the same time.
• 3 processes involved in SD

  The anxiety hierarchy

  Relaxation techniques

  Gradual exposure
• Flooding


  Immediate and complete exposure to the phobic stimulus.

  No gradual build up.

  No relaxation techniques.

  Sessions are often longer than with SD but often only one session is needed.
• Extinction 


  A learned response is extinguished when the conditioned stimulus is encountered without the unconditioned stimulus.