What is exposure therapy?

Exposure therapy is a kind of treatment for individuals with anxiety and related disorders. This approach asks people to put themselves in situations that make them nervous, in a guided, supportive, and planful way. People work with a therapy to develop the list of situations they will approach, beginning with the most manageable challenge and increasing the difficulty of the challenges with practice. For example, someone who is afraid of spiders might start by looking at hand drawn pictures of spiders and work their way up to holding a tarantula at a pet store.

How effective is it?

Exposure therapy is consistently shown to be an effective treatment for a range of anxiety and related disorders.

Who provides exposure therapy?

Therapists have different levels of experience and training in providing exposure therapy in their practice. For individuals looking for treatment for anxiety or related disorders, it is important to ask about how their intervention uses exposure therapy.

Where can I find the most up-to-date information about Exposure Therapy?

• Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) – Resources on what to look for from clinicians and where to find care

• Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) – Resources on what to look for from clinicians and where to find care

• American Psychological Association, Division 53 - Resources on what to look for from clinicians and where to find care for youth experiencing anxiety