systematic desensitisation

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Term: Systematic Desensitisation

Definition: Systematic desensitisation is a technique used in behavior therapy to help people overcome phobias (intense fears) and anxiety problems. It involves gradually exposing a person to the thing they are afraid of while they are in a relaxed state. The goal is to help the person become less anxious about the fear over time.

Usage Instructions:

• When to use: You can use "systematic desensitisation" when discussing methods in psychology or therapy, especially related to treating fears or anxieties.
• Who uses it: Psychologists, therapists, or counselors.

Example:

• "To help Sarah with her fear of flying, her therapist recommended systematic desensitisation, where they would start by talking about airplanes and then gradually move to simulating a flight."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced discussions, you might mention how systematic desensitisation can be combined with other therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), to enhance its effectiveness.

Word Variants:

• Desensitise (verb): To make someone less sensitive to something.
• Desensitization (noun): The process of making someone less sensitive.

Different Meaning:

• Outside of a therapeutic context, "desensitisation" can refer to becoming less responsive to something, like violence in media, but it is primarily used in a psychological context.

Synonyms:

• Exposure therapy
• Gradual exposure
• Fear reduction therapy

Idioms:

While there aren’t specific idioms directly related to "systematic desensitisation," you might encounter phrases like "face your fears," which means to confront what you are afraid of, similar to the goal of systematic desensitisation.

Phrasal Verbs:

• Work through: To deal with a problem or challenge step by step, which can relate to the gradual exposure aspect of systematic desensitisation.
• Calm down: To reduce anxiety or stress, an important part of the process before exposure happens.

Academic

Noun

1. a technique used in behavior therapy to treat phobias and other behavior problems involving anxiety; client is exposed to the threatening situation under relaxed conditions until the anxiety reaction is extinguished

Synonyms

• desensitization technique
• desensitisation technique
• desensitization procedure
• desensitisation procedure
• systematic desensitization