Exposure therapy for anxiety forms the basis for so many of our most effective approaches in mental health. Exposure helps mental health clients cope with anxiety as well as related conditions (OCD, PTSD, etc). There is also good exposure therapy training for therapists to learn a highly effective approach to anxiety.
Exposure therapy has proven one of the most effective anxiety treatments for decades. Anxiety difficulties often develop and maintain because individuals learn to avoid situations that make them anxious (e.g., social situations, phobias, etc). Exposure therapy works by helping individuals “face their fears” by remaining in anxiety provoking situations in safe way, without giving in to the urge to escape.
Exposure repeatedly provides evidence that what the individual fears is not actually harmful. Over repeated exposures, they progressively learn that avoidance is actually ineffective. They experience less and less anxiety over time in response to those situations, until their anxiety is minimal and does interfere with their life.
Contrary to some claims, exposure is not harmful to individuals. Ironically, avoiding using exposure therapy for this reason unintentionally colludes with avoidance that maintains anxiety disorders.
Anxiety disorders are among the most common experiences that therapists see. But many therapists do not utilize exposure therapy for anxiety. Luckily there is a good exposure therapy training by University of Pennsylvania Medical School.
Pros: Exposure therapy is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety disorders and related conditions. Even more cognitively based therapies for anxiety have some element of exposure therapy (and vice versa). It is also very safe and straightforward to conduct. Exposure also provides lifelong coping skills to clients. One of the leading mental health institutions in the country conducts this particular training. (University of Pennsylvania is considered the home base of CBT.)
Limits: Exposure therapy is often difficult for clients and the urge to avoid situations is very strong. So sometimes therapy requires up-front buy-in or addressing ambivalence (e.g., via Motivational Interviewing). But once a client reaches readiness, exposure therapy is the closest thing we have to a “cure” for specific types of anxiety.
Exposure therapy is a highly effective approach for helping clients learn ways to greatly alleviate their anxiety and learn effective long-term coping skills. Although it can be difficult, clients are usually very grateful for the opportunity to find such strong relief.
