Exposure therapy

Who is suitable for exposure therapy?

At HSR Psychology, children and young people from the age of 5 upto 25 may be suitable for exposure therapy. 

At HSR Psychology, exposure therapy may be a good option for children and young people that: 

• Have a phobia which impacts their life
• Show excessive anxiety or get very upset in certain situations
• Avoid certain places, people, animals or objects due to distress
• Avoid daily activities e.g going to school, due to excessive fear or anxiety
• Show physical indicators of fear or anxiety in certain situations e.g shaking, stomach ache
• Run away from certain situations due to distress
• Have difficulties sleeping or eating due to anxiety
• Have started bed wetting after successful toilet training
• Have nightmares frequently
• Avoid trying new things

To find out how exposure therapy could benefit you, please contact us.

What are the benefits of exposure therapy?

Exposure therapywith HSR Psychologybrings numerous benefits for the individual, including being able to:

• Use relaxation techniques when confronted with fear
• Carry out daily activities without excessive worry
• Focus in class 
• Face specific situations instead of using avoidance
• Use positive coping strategies
• Sleep and eat appropriately
• Try new things without excessive worry
• Feel more confident in their own abilities

Following exposure therapywe will be able to give you some recommendations for supporting the person, which will make them feel happy and ready about facing life’s challenges.

What happens prior to exposure therapy?

Exposure therapy can be carried out once we have had an initial discussion. You can find out more about our process below.

What happens during exposure therapy?

During exposure therapy, the young person will usually learn about fear and anxiety: what it is and why it occurs. They will often work with one of our specialists to identify what triggers their fear or anxiety. Then, the individual will be taught relaxation techniques for coping with anxiety. Following this, they might create a ‘hierarchy of fear’ which will outline small steps to overcoming their fear or anxiety. The individual work through the hierarchy or ladder with the psychologist at their own pace, whilst using their relaxation techniques to cope with increased levels of anxiety. Gradually, the individual will become accustomed to each step and will be able to move up their ladder until they have overcome their fear or anxiety.

What happens after exposure therapy?

Following exposure therapy we will often be able to identify the child or young person’s triggers and effective strategies to reduce fear or anxiety when confronted with their trigger. After exposure therapy we may recommend multiple follow up sessions if the child or young person’s fears begin to impact their life again. Feedback from exposure therapy can either be given face to face or in a written report if needed. You will be supported during the process of an intervention. 

Does exposure therapy come with a report?

Exposure therapy can be provided for various reasons, therefore we can provide a report following the intervention. We always recommend that you get a report following an intervention. The report will detail what took place during therapy, the impact of the therapy and recommendations for the individuals future. If a written report is not needed, then our specialist can provide verbal feedback. Otherwise, a report can be produced which can be used in many circumstances. Read more about the reports we provide.