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Q.

Can I self-administer systematic desensitization to treat a phobia or does it have to be under the care of a therapist?

Related Topics: Phobia, Systematic Desensitization
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Joseph F. Goldberg, MDJoseph F. Goldberg, MDSUCCESS!
Joseph F. Goldberg, MD
Psychiatry
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
20 Answers
73 Helpful Votes
15 Followers
A.

Hmmm ... well, the concept is to gradually expose oneself to the stimulus that provokes anxiety, and exinguish the fear response by graded exposure.

I suppose if someone knows what they are doing, then there's no reason they couldn't apply the principle on their own as they saw fit.

Depending on what the fear was, one would want some grasp of knowing how much exposure is too much and what to do if the technique didn't work.

This answer should not be considered medical advice...down arrowThis answer should not be considered medical advice and should not take the place of a doctor’s visit. Please see the bottom of the page for more information or visit our Terms and Conditions.up arrow

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