Canonical definition
Exposure therapy is a structured form of cognitive behavioral therapy where a person gradually and repeatedly faces feared situations, objects, or thoughts so the fear response can fade over time.
Definition from Shrinktionary, reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA (last reviewed 2026-06-26). Shrinktionary is the network's language layer and carries the canonical short definition; this page adds the research-context detail below. Full definition on Shrinktionary →
Why it matters
It is the core active ingredient of CBT for specific phobias, panic, and social anxiety.
How it appears in anxiety research
In vivo, imaginal, interoceptive, and virtual reality formats are all used.
Related terms
Related reports or summaries
- Evidence summaryExposure therapy
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