Question

janet is very afraid of snakes. her therapist brings her into a room, where there is a fake snake in the opposite corner. which type of therapeutic technique is her therapist most likely using?

Answer 1

Janet's therapist is using exposure therapy by starting with a non-threatening fake snake to help her overcome her fear of snakes through habituation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Janet's therapist is likely using an approach known as exposure therapy. Exposure therapy is a technique in behavior therapy that treats anxiety by exposing patients to the feared object or context without any danger, in order to overcome their anxiety. The therapy is based on the principle that the feeling of fear will gradually decrease through the process of habituation or extinction, which involves the repeated confrontation with the feared stimulus until it no longer elicits the anxiety response.

The use of a fake snake suggests that the therapist is starting with a less threatening version of the fear-inducing stimulus, eventually working up to situations involving real snakes, if necessary. This incremental approach is key to the effectiveness of exposure therapy and helps ensure that the patient is not overwhelmed, facilitating the reduction of fear over time.