Exposure therapy helps people who struggle with anxiety disorders face their fears and learn powerful coping strategies so that they can live life more freely. People with social anxiety, for example, can learn to enjoy time with family, friends, or even people they aren’t familiar with, perhaps for the first time. Imagine living with fewer barriers.

At Columbia Associates, we help empower people through effective mental health treatments like exposure therapy. You deserve the best possible care. Call us about our mental health therapy services at 703.682.8208 to find out more.

What Is Exposure Therapy?

Exposure therapy is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that helps people confront their fears in a safe, supportive setting. The key principle is to gradually expose clients to situations that would typically cause them anxiety until the fear of that situation or object significantly decreases or goes away altogether. This process allows people to learn and then practice coping strategies that lead to major improvements in their lives.

How Does Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Work?

There are various types of exposure therapy that can be recommended based on client’s needs. With each kind, major benefits are achieved through carefully monitored steps:

In Vivo Exposure

In vivo exposure involves exposing clients to real-life situations that cause them feelings of anxiety. This might include scenarios like:

• Going to public places
• Participating in activities that the individual may typically avoid

In cases like these, an experienced therapist works with the client to curate a hierarchy of feared situations and then gradually exposes them to each situation until their fear decreases. This type of exposure therapy is offered in a controlled and supportive environment.

Imaginal Exposure

Imaginal exposure involves exposing clients to imagined situations that may cause anxiety. This can include visualizing a feared situation or experiencing it through storytelling, guided imagery, or role-playing. The therapist will likely work with the client to create a script of their fears and gradually expose them to each scenario until their fear decreases. Enduring the feelings of anxiety in a secure environment is helpful in overcoming the difficult emotions they normally feel.

Virtual Reality Exposure

Virtual reality exposure involves using technology to create a simulated environment that triggers anxiety in clients. This can be an effective tool for people who struggle with agoraphobia or other phobias that may require them—at least for a time, to stay away from the actual upsetting event or setting. The therapist guides the client through the virtual experience, helping them learn how to cope with their fears until it’s safe for them to be exposed to the physical setting or object.

Interoceptive Exposure

Interoceptive exposure involves exposing clients to physical sensations that may elicit anxiety. This can include intentionally eliciting physical responses like rapid breathing, increased heart rate, or dizziness. Over time, the client develops coping strategies and reduces their fear of these physical sensations. This type of exposure therapy is typically used in treating panic disorders.

Exposure therapy is a structured and systematic way of helping people confront fears and gain increasing levels of mastery over them. It’s shown to be highly effective in treating anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

How Can Columbia Associates Help?

Unlike medication, exposure therapy can provide results by teaching people how to confront their fears and cope with anxiety using their own tools. With the guidance of our skilled therapists, clients learn valuable, empowering skills that can be used throughout their lives.

Call Columbia Associates Today for Exposure Therapy for Anxiety

Columbia Associates integrates exposure therapy into our range of mental health services. Our experienced therapists offer compassionate and supportive care, helping clients navigate their fears with someone by their side. Our therapeutic approach allows clients the opportunity to benefit from the best of traditional therapies and new innovative treatments as well. Call 703.682.8208 for more information.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your mental health journey, click here to reach out to our team of empathetic mental health care experts. For existing clients, please click here and find your office location to contact your office directly.