Systematic Desensitisation

• What is systematic desensitisation?

  A form of behavioural therapy which gradually reduces phobic anxiety through classical conditioning
• What does systematic desensitisation aim to do?

  Remove the fear response to a phobia and substitute a relaxation response to the conditioned stimulus using counter conditioning
• What is counter conditioning?


  When a new association is formed that counters the original association
• During systematic desensitisation, the phobic stimulus is paired with relaxation instead of anxiety. This will lead to the extinction of the fear response
• What is the first step in systematic desensitisation?

  The client creates a fear hierarchy starting with the stimulus that creates the least anxiety to the most fear provoking situations
• What is the second step in systematic desensitisation?

  Relaxation
• In the second step, the patient is taught relaxation techniques such as

  • breathing exercises
  • mental imagery techniques
  • meditation

  In some cases, they may be given valium, a drug that helps you relax
• What is the reason for teaching relaxation techniques?

  It is impossible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time, so one prevents the other. This is known as reciprocal inhibition, where the response of relaxation inhibits the response of anxiety
• What is the third step in systematic desensitisation?

  Gradual exposure
• How is gradual exposure done?

  Patient makers their way up the fear hierarchy starting at the least unpleasant stimuli and practising their relaxation techniques as they go. When they feel comfortable with it, they move on to the next stage of the hierarchy .

  If client becomes upset, they can return to an earlier stage and regain their relaxed state