Question

In order to treat Sarah's fear of squirrels, Sarah's therapist asks her to create a list of fear-provoking situations, which she then ranks from "least scary" to "most scary." Sarah is most likely preparing to engage in

Answer 1

Creating a ranked list of fear-provoking situations from 'least scary' to 'most scary' is a technique used in exposure therapy to treat phobias and anxiety disorders.

Step-by-step explanation:

Creating a list of fear-provoking situations that are ranked from "least scary" to "most scary" is a technique commonly used in exposure therapy. Exposure therapy is a well-established and effective treatment for various phobias and anxiety disorders. By gradually exposing oneself to the feared situations or objects, starting from the least anxiety-inducing and moving towards the most anxiety-inducing, individuals can learn to overcome their fears and reduce anxiety responses.

For example, in Sarah's case, she might rank seeing a picture of a squirrel as the "least scary" situation, while seeing a squirrel in the park might be ranked as the "most scary" situation.

By systematically working through the list and repeatedly facing the fear-provoking situations, individuals can experience a reduction in their anxiety and learn that the feared situations are not as dangerous or threatening as they initially believed.