Briefly describe what is involved in the three-step process of systematic desensitization.

Answer:

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Step one involves building what is referred to as an anxiety hierarchy, which is a list of all the stimuli that are related to the particular phobia. The client would rank each of these stimuli in order of the amount of anxiety experienced, from least to greatest. Step two is where the therapist trains the client in several forms of relaxation techniques. Step three involves working through the anxiety hierarchy. Starting with the least anxiety-inducing stimulus, the client practices remaining relaxed as the stimulus is imagined. Each item on the list must be conquered before moving on to the next item.