Is Exposure Therapy Traumatizing? (Episode 180)
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Is exposure therapy traumatizing? It's a question we hear often, and one that makes some therapists hesitate to use exposure at all. This week we take it on directly, with the caveat that this is our clinical opinion and not a substitute for care tailored to you.
We talk about the difference between a crisis, where your ability to cope is temporarily overwhelmed, and trauma, and why intense fear or discomfort doesn't automatically mean someone has been traumatized. We also explain when a history of genuinely dangerous events changes the approach, why trauma-informed work may need to come first for some people, and why a good clinician formulates the problem and builds a graduated hierarchy before anyone is sent into the hardest situation. We also get into how the words we choose shape the story we tell ourselves.
Plus did it anyway wins, including a first day back at work with agoraphobia, a trip away from a safe person, and a Halloween gig.
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Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts or guests of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.