The Benefits of Exposure Therapy and Response Prevention
The mind has a long list of issues and disorders that can follow people throughout their lifetime. Whether it’s a long-held phobia, an obsessive-compulsive tick, or intense feelings of anxiety, people have looked for ways to deal with these conditions for generations. Thanks to improvements in cognitive behavioral therapy, psychologists and therapists have a wide range of tools at their disposal to help their patients. Exposure therapy and response prevention have become some of the most effective treatment options.
Before jumping into exposure therapy and using response prevention tips, it is critical to understand what this treatment entails and how it can help in real-life situations. Our cognitive-behavioral therapists break down the different types of exposure therapy and what you can expect from this treatment style.
What Is Exposure Therapy?
Exposure consists of taking a patient into a safe environment and exposing them to the source of their fear and anxiety to help reduce the adverse reactions. Exposure therapy aims to teach the patient relaxation techniques and coping mechanisms to deal with their anxiety symptoms and lessen the overall impact of that situation. This type of cognitive-behavioral therapy has proven effective under proper supervision.
The Ins and Outs of Response Prevention
The second component of this particular treatment method, response prevention, focuses on how people respond to a stressful or feared situation. Our responses to these stimuli have often been borne out of necessity and may not be the most effective way to cope and deal with these emotions.
Response prevention focuses on teaching patients coping skills to help deal with situations, pay attention to their emotions, and give them the tools to improve their mental health condition. People living with OCD frequently undergo the combination of exposure therapy and response prevention to learn how better to handle their triggers through exposure and response prevention ERP.
Are There Different Types of Exposure Therapy?
Not every patient responds to a given type of therapy the same way — everyone has their own triggers that require a personalized approach to their treatment. When it comes to exposure therapy, there are four different types, including:
In Vivo Exposure
Imaginal Exposure
Virtual Reality Exposure
Interoceptive Exposure
In Vivo Exposure
The most direct way to face your fears over a specific trigger remains facing it head-on. In vivo exposure centers on the patient directly interacting with and facing their fear to diminish the physical sensations they experience when they encounter it.
Imaginal Exposure
Imaginal exposure can prove a suitable alternative when direct confrontation might appear too stressful for the patient. The patient thinks about an intense triggering event, clearly thinking of the details and describing the event in detail to confront their trauma. It’s a treatment that has worked well with patients dealing with PTSD.
Virtual Reality Exposure
With the increased capability of virtual reality technology, the therapy world has begun using specific virtual reality programs to help people confront their triggers when in vivo exposure isn’t practical. Someone with a fear of flying can use virtual reality exposure to sit through a simulated flight with all of the sights, sounds, and stimuli without leaving the ground.
Interoceptive Exposure
When someone has a panic disorder, they have a physical and visceral reaction. Interoceptive exposure entails recreating that physical reaction in a deliberate manner, but in a controlled scenario. If you feel your heartbeat quicken, then interoceptive exposure would have you run in place to speed up their heart rate to illustrate that the sensation isn’t inherently dangerous.
Find the Therapy Treatment That’s Right for You
Finding a safe and trusted therapist to help you through exposure therapy and response prevention treatments remains a critical component of your treatment. In the Gainesville, FL, area, the FLOAAT Center has an established reputation in pairing our patients with licensed and experienced therapists to help with their treatment. Our staff can help determine if exposure therapy is right for you, and if it is, determine which specific treatment plans work best.
If you want to start working with a trusted mental health specialist to help you heal, we’re ready to help. Contact the FLOAAT Center to schedule your first appointment today!
