Final answer:
Using tokens or points as reinforcers is not a part of systematic desensitization; this is a separate behavior modification technique. The main steps in systematic desensitization include learning progressive relaxation, creating an anxiety hierarchy, and imagining a relaxing control scene.
Step-by-step explanation:
The step that is NOT part of the basic steps involved in systematic desensitization is D) Tokens or points are awarded to the patient as positive reinforcers for desirable behaviors and withheld or taken away from the patient for undesirable behaviors. Systematic desensitization typically involves three main steps. A) The patient learns progressive relaxation, which helps achieve a deep state of relaxation by relaxing one muscle group after another. B) The behavior therapist helps the patient construct an anxiety hierarchy, which lists anxiety-provoking images associated with the feared situation in order of intensity. Lastly, C) The patient develops an image of a relaxing control scene, such as walking on a secluded beach on a sunny day, which helps in counterconditioning the anxiety response. The use of a token economy, as described in option D, is a different behavior modification technique that is not a standard component of systematic desensitization.