When Meredith was 12 years old, she had to endure a very painful dental procedure. Ever since, she has had an intense fear of going to the dentist. Which of the following techniques is most likely to help her overcome her fear of going to the dentist?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Systematic desensitization is a technique used in behavior therapy to help individuals overcome phobias and other anxiety disorders. It involves graduated exposure to the feared object or situation while practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation. In this case, Meredith could gradually be exposed to dental procedures while practicing relaxation techniques to help her overcome her fear. Contingency management and rational-emotive therapy are not appropriate for treating specific phobias, and EMDR is typically used to treat trauma-related symptoms rather than phobias.

When Meredith Was 12 Years Old, She Had to Endure