Systematic Desensitisation (Noun)
Meaning
A technique used in behavior therapy to treat phobias and other behavior problems involving anxiety; client is exposed to the threatening situation under relaxed conditions until the anxiety reaction is extinguished.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The therapist used systematic desensitization to help the client overcome her fear of spiders by gradually exposing her to pictures and then real spiders in a controlled environment.
- Systematic desensitization was employed to treat the patient's agoraphobia by gradually increasing his exposure to crowded places while teaching him relaxation techniques.
- The counseling approach involved systematic desensitization to address the child's social anxiety by starting with small groups and gradually increasing the size of the group.
- A therapist may use systematic desensitization to treat a person's fear of heights by first having them imagine themselves in a high place, then gradually exposing them to real-life situations.
- The treatment plan for the client's aerophobia included systematic desensitization, beginning with exposure to simulated flights and eventually progressing to actual airplane rides.
Synonyms
- Desensitisation Procedure
- Desensitization Procedure
- Systematic Desensitization
- Desensitization Technique
- Desensitisation Technique