Understanding The Counseling Process

Exposure & Anxiety Counseling

26 April 2021

Timmothy Washington

For many people with anxiety, it feels like they have tried everything. It's normal to feel exasperated after you have tried several forms of therapy to cope with anxiety. One type of counseling you may not have tried? Exposure therapy.

Exposure therapy is a unique form of counseling many people with anxiety see the benefit in. Here's what you need to know about it.

What Is Exposure Therapy for Anxiety?

First, it is important to understand exactly what exposure therapy is. The goal of exposure therapy is to expose you, slowly and safely, to things you are afraid of or have anxiety about. The goal is to diminish the anxiety you have over time.

Exposure therapy helps with a variety of anxiety-related issues. They include OCD, PTSD, panic disorder, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and other phobias.

What Types of Activities Are Involved in Exposure Therapy?

If you are interested in exposure therapy, you might wonder what kinds of activities are involved in the process. There are a few different types of activities you may perform in therapy.

Often, one of the first types of exercises involves imagining the stimulus that causes anxiety. Your therapist may create scenarios for you to imagine, and they will help you get used to the idea of the stimulus.

In some cases, the therapist might recreate sensation or offer pictures or videos of the anxiety-inducing stimulus.  After some time, you may actually face the thing you are afraid of.

For example, somebody who is afraid of snakes may first imagine a snake. Then, the therapist might show videos of a snake. Finally, the client might go to the zoo and see a snake in person.

What Other Types of Therapy Can You Try?

Often, exposure therapy is used with other forms of therapy. For example, your therapist might also involve other components of cognitive-behavioral therapy to help you deal with anxiety. Others may use dialectical behavior therapy as well.

In some cases, anxiety can also be treated with trauma-based therapy. Getting to the root of the problem can help you combat ideas and images that might induce anxiety.

Anxiety Counseling Helps You Through Difficult Times

If you have experienced a lot of trauma in life or even if you have no idea where your anxiety comes from, you benefit from counseling. To learn more about your mental health options, contact a company like Lehigh Valley Counselors.

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