Beth is so terrified of snakes that even walking on sidewalks covered with earthworms after a rain storm makes her feel anxious.Her behavioral therapist has been helping Beth overcome her fear by having her work through an anxiety hierarchy while she maintains a state of deep relaxation.In this case,her therapist is using

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Systematic desensitization is a type of therapy used to gradually reduce anxiety by pairing relaxation techniques with exposure to the feared stimuli in a hierarchical manner. In this case, Beth's therapist is using an anxiety hierarchy to expose her to earthworms, which are less anxiety-producing than snakes, while she maintains deep relaxation. Through repeated exposure, Beth can learn to associate earthworms with relaxation rather than anxiety, which can eventually help her overcome her fear of snakes. The other options, hypnotherapy, aversion therapy, and biofeedback, are not the most appropriate or effective treatments for this particular fear.

Beth Is So Terrified of Snakes That Even Walking on Sidewalks