SD - AO1

• SD is a behavioural therapy used to reduce phobic anxiety through the principle of classical conditioning
• SD has the basis that if they learn to relax in the presence of the phobic stimulus then they will be cured
• Counterconditioning: A new response to the phobic stimulus is learned (phobic stimulus is paired with relaxation instead of anxiety)
• There are three processes involved in SD: anxiety hierarchy, relaxation, exposure
• Examples of relaxation techniques

  • meditation
  • breathing exercises
  • mental imagery techniques
• Exposure (SD)

  • client is exposed to phobic stimulus in a relaxed state
  • takes place across several sessions, starting at the bottom of the anxiety hierarchy
• When can they move up the hierarchy?

  When the client can stay relaxed in the presence of the lower levels of the phobic stimulus
• Treatment is successful when the client can stay relaxed in situations high on the anxiety hierarchy.
• Reciprocal inhibition

  • fear and relaxation are two antagonistic emotions, as you can't feel two opposite emotions simultaneously