Exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy offer effective psychological treatment alternatives for many of the anxiety disorders. In one or two sentences, contrast the general focus and overall approach of exposure therapy with that of cognitive behavioral therapy. Illustrate the distinction with specific reference to the treatment of social anxiety disorder.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: In exposure therapy, a client directly confronts a feared or anxiety-provoking object or situation until he or she can respond to it without fear or anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to change a client’s automatic, irrational thoughts surrounding an anxiety-provoking situation. Exposure therapy for social anxiety disorder might begin by having the client create a hierarchy of anxiety-provoking situations, from the least anxiety provoking to the most. The hierarchy might progress, for example, from interacting with a cashier at a store to giving an important oral presentation. The client would then progress through the hierarchy via role-playing or actual experience until the situations no longer cause distress. Cognitive behavioral therapy would help the client confront and restructure her or his automatic, negative thoughts regarding social situations.
Learning Objective: 8.3 Distinguish among the major anxiety disorders, their causes, and treatment.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder
Difficulty Level: Medium