A therapeutic technique in which a client is first presented with minimally fearful stimuli and then slowly works up a hierarchy of progressively more fearful stimuli is known as ______.

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This technique is called gradual exposure or systematic desensitization. It is often used to treat phobias and anxiety disorders. The client is exposed to increasingly more anxiety-provoking situations or stimuli in a safe and controlled environment until they are able to approach the feared situation without experiencing excessive anxiety or avoidance. Flooding and aversive conditioning are different techniques that involve a more intense and potentially unpleasant experience to eliminate a behavior or fear. Response cost training involves removing a reward or positive consequence for an undesirable behavior.

A Therapeutic Technique in Which a Client Is First Presented