systemic desensitisation

• • The behavioural approach argues that a phobia is learnt from the environment
  • Systematic desensitation works through using classical conditioning to unlearn a phobia.
• • The client is taught relaxation techniques to use in stressful situations e.g. deep breathing exercises/ Muscle relaxation
  • Hierarchy of anxiety – the client works with the therapist to make a graded scale of feared events from the least anxiety producing through to the most anxiety producing event
• • Gradual exposure -Reciprocal inhibition – use relaxation before exposure to the feared event as it not possible to be calm and anxious at the same time
  • The client will continue through each stage till they are relaxed throughout all stages – they can return to early levels if not completely relaxed