REBT-Exposure involves...

• A. Avoid the feared situation altogether.
• B. Enter the feared situation without any coping skills.
• C. Assist with coping skills and then enter the feared situation in a planned, deliberate way.
• D. Discuss the fear in session only.

Answer: (C)

In REBT, exposure is done with preparation and skills to handle the anxiety, not through avoidance or idle discussion. The idea is to teach or reinforce coping strategies and rational ways of thinking, then deliberately and progressively face the feared situation to test and disconfirm the client’s irrational beliefs. This combination helps the person tolerate the distress while gathering real evidence that counters catastrophic predictions.

For example, someone who fears public speaking might learn coping statements and cognitive disputing techniques, then plan a small, gradual speaking task before a supportive audience. After the exposure, they review what happened, note that the feared outcome didn’t occur or was manageable, and adjust their beliefs accordingly.

Avoidance keeps fear intact, entering the situation without skills can heighten distress without promoting learning, and discussing the fear only in session doesn’t provide real-world practice. The emphasis on both coping skills and a planned, deliberate exposure is what makes this approach effective.