Exposure in vivo

What is exposure?

Exposure is a treatment that focuses on confronting your fears. Exposure in vivo involves confronting situations and/or stimuli from the outside world that provoke anxiety. This can range from encountering a spider, car, or dog to visiting the dentist or doctor, taking the bus, attending a job interview, or stopping the repeated checking of the stove. It can also be used for traumatic complaints when, for example, you avoid certain places or people, or when you avoid triggers such as news, movies, smells, or touches.

The goal of Exposure is to confront anxiety-provoking situations to gain new information. Through this process, you learn to think more realistically and learn to experience bodily sensations, ultimately leading to a reduction in tension, anxiety, and other symptoms. Your avoidance and safety behaviours will also decrease.

What can you expect?

Because the exercises are intended to confront anxiety, it means you are going to feel anxious. So, it’s not unusual if you immediately feel some resistance or hesitation to do them. Overcoming that resistance and crossing that threshold is precisely the goal of exposure, to overcome your fear.

During treatment, you may encounter various challenges. You might find yourself postponing or avoiding exercises, fearing that the emotions will be too overwhelming, or seeking new ways to calm yourself. You might also prefer to start with relatively easier exercises or seek reassurance more often. These are all normal reactions, and it’s important to discuss them openly with your therapist!