Which technique targets anxiety disorders by exposing the client to feared objects or situations without danger to overcome the anxiety response?

• A. Chaining
• B. Diversion
• C. Guided Imagery
• D. Exposure Therapy

Answer: (D)

Exposure therapy uses the principle that fear can be reduced by confronting the feared object or situation in a safe setting until the anxiety response diminishes. By facing the fear without any real danger and without avoidance, the person learns that the anticipated threat does not materialize, leading to extinction of the anxious response and a reduction in avoidance over time. This is especially effective for anxiety disorders because it directly targets the fear itself rather than merely managing symptoms. Other techniques listed don’t center on confronting the fear to reshape the learned fear response: chaining links behaviors in a sequence, diversion is simply distracting from distress, and guided imagery focuses on relaxation through imagined scenarios rather than real exposure to the feared stimulus.