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Systematic Desensitisation (Facts (Behavioural therapy based on the…
Systematic Desensitisation
Facts
Behavioural therapy based on the principle of Classical Conditioning
Developed by Wolpe during the 1950s
Usually 4-6 sessions or up to 12 = therapy is complete when the agreed therapeutic goals are met = not necessarily when the persons fear have been completely removed
3 Phases
1
Patient is taught a deep muscle relaxation technique and breathing exercises e.g meditation
Very Important = once response is inhibited, it is incompatible with another e.g fear involves tension and tension is incompatible with relaxation
2
Patient creates a fear hierarchy, starting at stimuli that creates the LEAST fear and building up to stimuli that creates the MOST fear. providing structure for therapy
3
Patient works their way up hierarchy, starting at the LEAST unpleasant stimuli and practising their relaxation techniques as they go
Patient repeatedly imagines fearful situation until it fails to evoke any anxiety at all = making it successful
Exposure
In Vitro
Client IMAGINES exposure to phobic stimulus
In Vivo
Client is ACTUALLY exposed to phobic stimulus
Aim
Aims to remove fear response of a phobia and substitute relaxation response to the conditional stimulus
Weaknesses
Time Consuming
Strengths
Ethical = broken into stages so causes less distress for patient
Long Term = cures underlying cause --> not just symptoms