What is a strength of systematic desensitisation?

Systematic desensitisation is a behavioral therapy technique often used to help individuals overcome phobias and anxiety disorders. A key strength of this approach lies in the use of a flexible hierarchy system.

The flexible hierarchy allows the therapist and client to collaboratively create a list of anxiety-provoking stimuli related to the phobia, arranged from least to most anxiety-inducing. This tailoring of the hierarchy means that the exposure to fear-inducing situations can be personalized to the individual's specific fears and coping abilities, promoting a tailored therapeutic experience. The gradual approach helps the client to build confidence and skills in facing their fears progressively, making the process more manageable and effective.

This strength contrasts with the other choices, where measuring progress may be difficult, phobia symptoms are not immediately eliminated, and complete avoidance of feared situations contradicts the purpose of systematic desensitisation, which aims to reduce fear through gradual exposure rather than avoidance.