Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTechniquesGetting StartedEffectivenessFinding a TherapistInsurance CoverageSelf-Guided Exposure Therapy
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Techniques
Getting Started
Effectiveness
Finding a Therapist
Insurance Coverage
Self-Guided Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy is an evidence-based treatment option for many mental health disorders. It involves exposing someone to an object or situation that causes anxiety, stress, or fear through actual exposure, virtual exposure, or exposure through images or thoughts.
This article will discuss the techniques used in exposure therapy and the reasons some mental health providers use exposure therapy. It will also compare other treatments and options for seeking a provider.
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Techniques Used in Exposure Therapy
There are different methods and pacing options for exposure therapy. A mental health provider can help determine the right approach for each person and situation.
Types of Exposure Therapy
There are several different types of exposure therapy, including:
Though there is evidence to support each of these types of exposure therapy, in vivo and imaginal treatments are most commonly used.
Pacing Options in Exposure Therapy
There are also various paces at which exposure therapy is provided. These include:
Exposure Therapy Is Not for EveryoneThough exposure therapy is safe and can be helpful for many people, the intervention is not for everyone. If your symptoms are overwhelming or unmanageable or if they turn into panic, work with a mental health provider to determine whether exposure therapy is the proper treatment. For some people, a slower pace or different treatment methods will be more effective.
Exposure Therapy Is Not for Everyone
Though exposure therapy is safe and can be helpful for many people, the intervention is not for everyone. If your symptoms are overwhelming or unmanageable or if they turn into panic, work with a mental health provider to determine whether exposure therapy is the proper treatment. For some people, a slower pace or different treatment methods will be more effective.
Reasons People Start Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy is an effective treatment modality for people experiencing certain mental illnesses, including those with:
People may be drawn to exposure therapy for its high effectiveness and ease of implementation, as well as the ability to work through certain aspects of the treatment, with or without a mental health provider.
Compared to Other Therapies, Does Exposure Therapy Work?
Exposure therapy is shown to be a safe and effective form of treatment for many mental health conditions. It is highly customizable and can be beneficial to people with stress,anxiety, ortraumasymptoms.
One of the drawbacks of exposure therapy, however, is that people often stop treatment before its completion due to discomfort with the experience. This may be especially true for those with continuous exposure to trauma or who have experienced severe trauma, such as military veterans.
To increase tolerance and the effectiveness of exposure therapy, other modalities are commonly used in tandem with this treatment. Although exposure therapy is a type ofcognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), it usually does not include all elements of standard CBT interventions, such as cognitive elements. For this reason, other forms of CBT are often used in combination with exposure therapy to increase its effectiveness.
Effectiveness for Different Types of TraumaExposure therapy may be more effective for certain types of traumatic experiences, like those related to natural disasters. Though the intervention can be helpful following any traumatic incident, research shows less effectiveness in traumatic situations related to medical procedures and sexual assault, which may warrant a different treatment approach.
Effectiveness for Different Types of Trauma
Exposure therapy may be more effective for certain types of traumatic experiences, like those related to natural disasters. Though the intervention can be helpful following any traumatic incident, research shows less effectiveness in traumatic situations related to medical procedures and sexual assault, which may warrant a different treatment approach.
Working With a Certified Provider
Mental health providers who offer exposure therapy have completed additional coursework, a consultation with a supervisor, and have earned a certification to treat patients. Confirm this is true for your provider before engaging in provider-guided exposure therapy.
When choosing a mental health provider, find someone you feel connected to. Exposure therapy is hard work, and finding a therapist who helps you feel calm and supported is vital to treatment success.
Does Insurance Cover Exposure Therapy?
Before beginning exposure therapy, you may want to contact your insurance provider to understand what will be covered, as well as your mental health provider to ensure they take your insurance.
Many mental health providers offer services on a sliding scale to people who do not have insurance coverage and are required to pay out of pocket.
Self-guided exposure therapy means the individual is in complete control of the stressors and the pace at which they are exposed. For example, in virtual reality therapy, the client is still in the room with a mental health provider but controls the pace at which they are exposed to the feared object or situation.
Though small amounts of exposure to mild stressors can potentially be done on your own, it is usually not advised to try exposure therapy without professional support and guidance. Self-guided exposure therapy does not mean exposing yourself to traumatic or highly stressful situations on your own without the help of a mental health professional.
Self-Guided Exposure Therapy Allows for More Control
Summary
Exposure therapy is an effective treatment option for many people who are suffering from PTSD, phobias, and other forms of anxiety. During treatment, the person is exposed to the fear or stressor to reduce symptoms over time. There are different approaches to exposure therapy, which can vary in intensity.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Aiken MP, Berry MJ.Posttraumatic stress disorder: possibilities for olfaction and virtual reality exposure therapy.Virtual Reality. 2015;19(2):95-109. doi:10.1007/s10055-015-0260-xFazel M, Stratford HJ, Rowsell E, Chan C, Griffiths H, Robjant K.Five applications of narrative exposure therapy for children and adolescents presenting with post-traumatic stress disorders.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:490525. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00019Thomas K, Dowd C, Broman-Fulks J.Systematic desensitization.Appalachian State University. Published online 2017.McLean CP, Levy HC, Miller ML, Tolin DF.Exposure therapy for PTSD: a meta-analysis.Clin Psychol Rev. 2022;91:102115. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102115Baddeley JL, Gros DF.Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia as a preparatory treatment for exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder.APT. 2013;67(2):203-214. doi:10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2013.67.2.203Coolong-Chaffin M, Hawkins RO.School-Based Behavioral Intervention Case Studies. (Axelrod MI, ed.). Taylor & Francis;2021.Premkumar P, Heym N, Brown DJ, et al.The effectiveness of self-guided virtual-reality exposure therapy for public-speaking anxiety.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:694610. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.694610
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Aiken MP, Berry MJ.Posttraumatic stress disorder: possibilities for olfaction and virtual reality exposure therapy.Virtual Reality. 2015;19(2):95-109. doi:10.1007/s10055-015-0260-xFazel M, Stratford HJ, Rowsell E, Chan C, Griffiths H, Robjant K.Five applications of narrative exposure therapy for children and adolescents presenting with post-traumatic stress disorders.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:490525. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00019Thomas K, Dowd C, Broman-Fulks J.Systematic desensitization.Appalachian State University. Published online 2017.McLean CP, Levy HC, Miller ML, Tolin DF.Exposure therapy for PTSD: a meta-analysis.Clin Psychol Rev. 2022;91:102115. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102115Baddeley JL, Gros DF.Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia as a preparatory treatment for exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder.APT. 2013;67(2):203-214. doi:10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2013.67.2.203Coolong-Chaffin M, Hawkins RO.School-Based Behavioral Intervention Case Studies. (Axelrod MI, ed.). Taylor & Francis;2021.Premkumar P, Heym N, Brown DJ, et al.The effectiveness of self-guided virtual-reality exposure therapy for public-speaking anxiety.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:694610. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.694610
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Aiken MP, Berry MJ.Posttraumatic stress disorder: possibilities for olfaction and virtual reality exposure therapy.Virtual Reality. 2015;19(2):95-109. doi:10.1007/s10055-015-0260-xFazel M, Stratford HJ, Rowsell E, Chan C, Griffiths H, Robjant K.Five applications of narrative exposure therapy for children and adolescents presenting with post-traumatic stress disorders.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:490525. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00019Thomas K, Dowd C, Broman-Fulks J.Systematic desensitization.Appalachian State University. Published online 2017.McLean CP, Levy HC, Miller ML, Tolin DF.Exposure therapy for PTSD: a meta-analysis.Clin Psychol Rev. 2022;91:102115. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102115Baddeley JL, Gros DF.Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia as a preparatory treatment for exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder.APT. 2013;67(2):203-214. doi:10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2013.67.2.203Coolong-Chaffin M, Hawkins RO.School-Based Behavioral Intervention Case Studies. (Axelrod MI, ed.). Taylor & Francis;2021.Premkumar P, Heym N, Brown DJ, et al.The effectiveness of self-guided virtual-reality exposure therapy for public-speaking anxiety.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:694610. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.694610
Aiken MP, Berry MJ.Posttraumatic stress disorder: possibilities for olfaction and virtual reality exposure therapy.Virtual Reality. 2015;19(2):95-109. doi:10.1007/s10055-015-0260-x
Fazel M, Stratford HJ, Rowsell E, Chan C, Griffiths H, Robjant K.Five applications of narrative exposure therapy for children and adolescents presenting with post-traumatic stress disorders.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:490525. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00019
Thomas K, Dowd C, Broman-Fulks J.Systematic desensitization.Appalachian State University. Published online 2017.
McLean CP, Levy HC, Miller ML, Tolin DF.Exposure therapy for PTSD: a meta-analysis.Clin Psychol Rev. 2022;91:102115. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102115
Baddeley JL, Gros DF.Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia as a preparatory treatment for exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder.APT. 2013;67(2):203-214. doi:10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2013.67.2.203
Coolong-Chaffin M, Hawkins RO.School-Based Behavioral Intervention Case Studies. (Axelrod MI, ed.). Taylor & Francis;2021.
Premkumar P, Heym N, Brown DJ, et al.The effectiveness of self-guided virtual-reality exposure therapy for public-speaking anxiety.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:694610. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.694610
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