Systematic Desensitization - Progressive Exposure

Progressive Exposure

The second component of systematic desensitization is gradual exposure to the feared object(s) or situation(s). Continuing with the snake example, a therapist might begin by asking the patient to develop a fear hierarchy which would list the relative unpleasantness of various levels of exposure to a snake. For example, seeing a picture of a snake might elicit a low fear rating, compared to the imagery of live snakes crawling on the individual---the latter scenario becoming highest on the fear hierarchy. Next, the patient would be presented with increasingly unpleasant levels of the feared stimuli, from lowest to highest---while utilizing deep relaxation techniques (i.e. progressive muscle relaxation). The imagined stimuli used in the previous example might include: a picture of a snake; a small snake in a nearby room; a snake in full view; touching of the snake, etc. At each step in the imagined progression, the patient is desensitized to the phobia through exposure to the stimulus, and while in a state of relaxation. As the fear hierarchy is unlearned, anxiety gradually becomes extinguished.