CBT for anxiety: tips for doing exposure with your clients!

A central aspect of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders consists of doing exposure exercises, in which clients progressively face situations, thoughts, and/or emotions that produce fear and anxiety. This process allows for reductions in fear and anxiety and alleviation of symptoms. Crucially, it's supported by decades of research.
However, despite its effectiveness and safety for treating anxiety disorders, exposure therapy is not practiced nearly enough. Many therapists - including many who practice CBT- steer away from this practice because it can be complex and uncomfortable.
So today, I'm sharing advice for therapists on how to overcome your own fear and anxiety about doing exposure exercises when doing CBT with your clients. These tips are also useful for clients seeking to do exposure therapy for their anxiety disorders.
References
Hipol & Deacon (2013). Dissemination of evidence-based practices for anxiety disorders in Wyoming: A survey of practicing psychologists. Behavior Modification, 37, 170-188.
Becker et al., (2004). A survey of psychologists’ attitudes towards utilization of exposure therapy for PTSD. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 42, 277-292.
Waller & Turner (2016). Therapist drift redux: Why well-meaning clinicians fail to deliver evidence-based therapy and how to get back on track. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 77, 129-137
**IMPORTANT**
All videos, comments, and materials are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute clinical advice. If you, or someone you know, needs help immediately:
- Call 911 or the corresponding local emergency number
- Reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (suicidepreventionlifeline.org/) or the Trevor Project (www.thetrevorproject.org/)
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I'm the Director of Together CBT, a clinic specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy groups for anxiety in NYC (www.togethercbt.com)
Follow me on Twitter (@DrAmeliaAldao) and Instagram (@Together_CBT)