Final answer:
The therapy procedure where a therapist interacts with a spider and then encourages the client to do the same is called systematic desensitization, which is a technique used to overcome phobias by gradual exposure.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a therapist interacts with a spider in a graded approach and then encourages their client to do the same, the procedure is known as systematic desensitization.
This therapeutic technique is particularly effective in overcoming phobias. The process involves gradually exposing a person to their feared object or context without the negative outcome they anticipate, thereby dismantling the fear response over time.
Systematic desensitization typically starts with teaching the client relaxation techniques. Then, the therapist will slowly introduce the phobic stimulus at the lowest level of a hierarchy, only moving up the hierarchy as the client becomes desensitized to each level.
This prevents the overwhelming anxiety that could result from a more abrupt exposure, known as flooding.
Desensitization therapy can also refer to medical treatments for allergies, where controlled exposure to allergens is used to build up tolerance. However, in the context of psychological phobias, systematic desensitization is the method described with the spider exposure scenario.