Exposure Therapy
What is Exposure Therapy?
Exposure therapy is an evidence-based approach designed to help individuals gradually face fears, anxieties, or distressing experiences in a safe, intentional, and supportive way. Rather than avoiding what feels overwhelming, exposure therapy helps reduce fear by allowing the nervous system to learn—over time—that these situations, thoughts, or sensations can be tolerated and managed.
At Park Psychological Services in New York, exposure therapy is offered within the context of a collaborative therapeutic relationship. We view exposure not as forcing confrontation, but as a carefully paced process grounded in trust, understanding, and respect for your emotional experience.
Who Can Benefit from Exposure Therapy?
Exposure therapy can be helpful for individuals struggling with:
- Anxiety disorders
- Phobias
- Social anxiety
- Panic disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Many people find themselves organizing their lives around avoidance—avoiding places, conversations, memories, or sensations that trigger distress. While avoidance may provide short-term relief, it often strengthens anxiety over time. Exposure therapy works by gently reducing this cycle, helping fears lose their power in daily life.
How Exposure Therapy Works
Exposure therapy is most commonly associated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and it focuses on gradually confronting feared situations, thoughts, or bodily sensations. With repeated, supported exposure, the brain learns that anxiety naturally rises and falls—and that feared outcomes are often less dangerous than expected. This process is sometimes referred to as habituation or desensitization.
At Park Psychological Services, exposure therapy is not a rigid protocol. We take time to understand why certain fears exist, how they developed, and what they mean in the context of your life. For some individuals, exposure is combined with psychodynamic psychotherapy, allowing us to explore underlying emotional patterns, past experiences, or relational dynamics that contribute to anxiety.
For example, someone with a fear of dogs might begin by discussing their history with animals, then gradually progress—from looking at photos, to watching videos, to standing near a calm dog—always at a pace that feels manageable and respectful.
Types of Exposure Therapy
Depending on your needs, your therapist may use one or more forms of exposure, including:
- In-vivo exposure: Gradual exposure to real-life situations
- Imaginal exposure: Talking through feared scenarios or memories
- Interoceptive exposure: Safely recreating physical sensations (such as increased heart rate) that trigger anxiety
- Virtual exposure: Using technology or guided imagery to simulate feared environments
Each approach is carefully tailored to your comfort level and therapeutic goals.
What to Expect in Treatment
Exposure therapy is typically gradual and collaborative. You and your therapist will work together to identify fears, create a hierarchy of challenges, and move step by step—from less distressing situations to more difficult ones.
While anxiety may increase temporarily at the beginning, most people notice that distress decreases with repeated exposure. Throughout the process, your therapist will help you develop coping strategies, reflect on emotional responses, and make sense of what arises. Feeling supported and understood is central to the work.
Benefits of Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy can help individuals:
- Reduce avoidance and regain independence
- Feel more confident in daily life
- Improve emotional regulation
- Decrease anxiety intensity over time
- Build resilience and tolerance for discomfort
- Strengthen relationships affected by anxiety
- Improve overall quality of life
Sessions are guided by licensed therapists who provide structure, encouragement, and emotional support—you are never expected to face fears alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does exposure therapy make anxiety worse?
Anxiety may feel stronger at first, but this is usually temporary. With consistent practice and support, anxiety typically decreases as confidence grows.
Does exposure therapy really work?
Yes. Research shows exposure therapy is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD, with benefits that often last well beyond treatment.
How long does exposure therapy take?
Treatment length varies. Some people notice improvement in a few sessions, while others benefit from longer-term work. The pace is always tailored to your needs.
What if I’m not ready to face my fears?
You will never be pushed into something you’re not ready for. Exposure therapy is gradual and collaborative, and readiness is always respected.
Can exposure therapy be done virtually?
Yes. Exposure therapy can be effectively delivered through telehealth, using guided exercises, imagery, and real-life practice between sessions.
Getting Started
If you’re wondering whether exposure therapy might be right for you, we invite you to reach out to Park Psychological Services. Our clinicians work thoughtfully and flexibly, integrating evidence-based techniques within a supportive therapeutic relationship. We offer both in-person sessions in Manhattan and telehealth throughout New York.
Taking the first step can feel daunting—but meaningful change is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone.