based on the principles of classical conditioning where the person replaces fear response with relaxation. hence is appropriate for phobias and other anxiety disorders.
therapist trains client in deep relaxation techniques to make relaxation the alternative response to feared stimulus. this can involve deep breathing or visualisation. it can also involve progressive muscle relaxation where one muscle at a time is tense then relaxes
2. therapist asks person to list situations for the least to the most fearful in a hierarchy
3. therapist asks client to visualise least feared situation while simultaneously performing deep relaxation procedure
4. once client feels comfortable at that level, therapist will ask to imagine next situation in hierarchy. the same procedure is repeated with visualisations of feared situation associated with the relaxation procedure.
5. over a serious of sessions the client will cope with every level of hierarchy. eventually they can cope with mostfeared situation at top of the hierarchy
new association is learned between relaxation procedure and feared stimulus. this is a gradual process.
