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Imaginal Exposure Therapy This type of exposure therapy involves a process where the individual with PTSD repeatedly visualizes or imagines traumatic events while describing them out loud to the therapist. During the sessions, the patients are guided by the therapists to remember everything they can about their traumatic experiences. This repeated process helps the brain gradually reframe the memories, making them less overwhelming with each exposure. |
Interoceptive Exposure Therapy This approach of exposure therapy focuses on the bodily sensations associated with traumatic events such as racing heart, dizziness, and shortness of breath. By inducing these sensations, it brings the people back to the way they felt during their period of trauma. However, through guided and repeated exposures to the same sensations, the brain is taught the sensations are not as dangerous as they thought. |
In Vivo Exposure Therapy This exposure therapy type is also referred to as ’Real life Exposure Therapy’. It involves a therapeutic process where therapists place their PTSD patients in actual situations that they fear or avoid due to trauma. For example, an individual that suffers from PTSD as a result of a car accident can start by visiting a parking lot and then progress to driving in the parking lot before moving on to short distances and highways. |
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy As previously mentioned, this type of exposure involves the use of VR technology to create virtual environments/scenarios where individuals with PTSD can be immersed to gradually confront their fears. This method provides the best access among all the types of exposure therapy, as it can recreate situations/events that are difficult or impossible to create in real life. It can be regulated, paused and even customized to meet the specific needs of each person with PTSD. VRET is integrated with bio-tracking monitors and also allows the option of being guided by therapists in real-time during sessions. |
Gradual Exposure This involves a step-by-step method where, in terms of intensity, the individuals with PTSD are exposed to trauma-stimulating environments in an incremental process. This is the most researched and recommended method as it helps the PTSD individuals build tolerance and reduce anxiety at a steady pace. |
Prolonged Exposure This is another important principle of mindfulness, and it involves acknowledging things as they are without trying to change them or desiring them to be different. Through acceptance, it then becomes easy to move on without holding on to any past experience and fully be in the moment. |
Flooding This is regarded as one of the most extreme forms of exposure therapy. It involves the PTSD subject being immediately exposed to the most intense trauma-related memories or triggers without any gradual or incremental buildup. It is based on the notion that when an individual with PTSD faces the full intensity of their fear at once, their anxiety will be diminished. It is important to note that this approach is not generally recommended for individuas with PTSD as it carries a high risk of overwhelming distress or emotional shutdown. |
Leading expert in VR Therapy with 30+ years' experience.
VR scientist (ResearchGate)
Clinical Psychologist since 1980, author of Virtual Reality Therapy for Anxiety" book
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