THEORY
Systematic Desensitisation:
- Based on classical conditioning.
- Aims to extinguish (ie: unlearn) a fear response by replacing it with a more desirable, incompatible response (relaxation).
- Used to treat phobias, by exposing the client to the threatening situation under relaxed conditions, until anxiety is extinguished.
- Can be carried out in vivo (actual reality), virtual reality, or by using imagination alone.
- Therapist and client construct a hierarchy of fear - working up from least frightening to most frightening stimulus.
- Client is given training in deep muscle relaxation techniques and taught breathing exercises/meditation/told to imagine themselves somewhere relaxing to help them relax.
- Client is exposed to the phobic stimulus, using relaxation techniques at each stage of the hierarchy.
- Therapy starts with least feared situation which only progresses to the next stage once the client feels relaxed enough to do so. Gradually, they are exposed to their whole hierarchy of feared situations.
- The client can eventually remain calm when confronted with their phobic object/situation.
Flooding:
- Based on classical conditioning.
- Aims to learn a relaxation response, which will then extinguish and replace the fear response.
- Can be carried out in vivo (actual reality), virtual reality, or by using imagination alone.
- Alternative to the gradual exposure used in Systematic Desensitisation.
- Identify the worst possible case scenario, rather than creating a hierarchy of fear (SD).
- Client is taught relaxation techniques (like in SD) to use if needed to help them relax.
- The client is exposed to their most feared situation for a prolonged period of time, without the option of escape.
- Eventually the fear begins to subside partly due to the use of relaxation techniques; and also because there is a time limit to the body's fear response, as adrenaline levels naturally decrease overtime (2-3 hours).
- The patient replaces the fear response with a calm, relaxed response to the phobic stimulus.