Skip to main content

Habituation

The Habituation information sheets are designed to help clinicians to explain the concept of habituation and its role in exposure therapy. The handout discusses: expectations (appraisals, predictions) when fear increases quickly, the role of avoidance in the maintenance of fear, and the effects of exposure.

Download or send

Choose your language

Professional version

Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.

Client version

Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.

Translation Template

Are you a qualified therapist who would like to help with our translation project?

Tags

Languages this resource is available in

  • Arabic
  • Chinese (Simplified)
  • English (GB)
  • English (US)
  • Estonian
  • French
  • Georgian
  • German
  • Greek
  • Gujarati
  • Hindi
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Kurdish (Sorani)
  • Pashto
  • Polish
  • Somali
  • Spanish (Dominican Republic)
  • Spanish (International)
  • Swahili
  • Tamil
  • Turkish

Problems this resource might be used to address

Techniques associated with this resource

Mechanisms associated with this resource

Introduction & Theoretical Background

Traditional models of exposure therapy are built upon the behavioral foundation of habituation. During an exposure trial habituation is said to occur when a fear response to a stimulus diminishes following repeated presentations of the stimulus. Clinicians are interested in two types of habituation:

  • Within-session habituation (WSH) describes peak fear level during an exposure minus ending fear level.
  • Between-session habituation (BSH) describes peak fear level during an exposure minus peak fear level during the subsequent exposure.

When providing the rationale for exposure therapists explain that repeated and prolonged exposure (during which safety behaviours are not used) leads to a reduction in anxiety during the exposure session, and across sessions. A clinical guideline which is often used to determine the length of an exposure session is a 50% reduction from the starting level of anxiety, and in which anxiety-reducing behaviors are judged not to have been responsible

Get access to this resource

View all plans and pricing options

Get Access

Therapist Guidance

This is a Psychology Tools information handout. Suggested uses include:

  • Client handout – use as a psychoeducation resource
  • Discussion point – use to provoke a discussion and explore client beliefs
  • Therapist learning tool – improve your familiarity with a psychological construct
  • Teaching resource – use as a learning tool during training

Get access to this resource

View all plans and pricing options

Get Access

References And Further Reading

  • Benito, K. G., & Walther, M. (2015). Therapeutic process during exposure: habituation model. Journal of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders6, 147-157.
  • Jacoby, R. J., & Abramowitz, J. S. (2016). Inhibitory learning approaches to exposure therapy: A critical review and translation to obsessive-compulsive disorder. Clinical Psychology Review, 49, 28-40.

Get access to this resource

View all plans and pricing options

Get Access