Habituation

The Habituation information sheets are designed to help clinicians to explain the concept of habituation and its role in exposure therapy.

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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.

Overview

Traditional models of exposure therapy are based on the behavioral principle of habituation. In an exposure trial, habituation occurs when a person's fear response to a stimulus decreases after repeated exposures to that stimulus. The Habituation information handout explains the concept of habituation and its importance in exposure therapy. It discusses key topics including expectations (e.g., appraisals and predictions) when fear escalates, the role of avoidance in maintaining fear, and the effects of exposure.

Why Use This Resource?

This resource is a valuable tool for introducing the concept of habituation to clients.

  • Explains what habituation is.
  • Discusses the role of avoidance in maintaining fear.
  • Illustrates how exposure reduces fear.

Key Benefits

Accessible

Provides a clear and accessible explanation of habituation.

Educational

Helps clients understand how exposure supports habituation and fear reduction.

Motivational

Highlights the benefits of exposure therapy.

Versatile

Suitable for a wide range of clients.

Who is this for?

Specific Phobias

Intense, persistent, and disproportionate fear of particular objects or situations.

Panic Disorder

Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and ongoing fear about having further attacks or their consequences.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Distressing, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) performed to prevent feared outcomes.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

Intense fear of social situations where one might be judged, embarrassed, or scrutinised.

Integrating it into your practice

01

Identify

Identify clients who might benefit from exposure therapy.

02

Educate

Use the handout to explain the concept of habituation.

03

Discuss

Highlight how exposure therapy promotes habituation and reduces fear.

04

Plan

Design exposure trials based on the principles of habituation.

Theoretical Background & Therapist Guidance

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.

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 for the anxiety decrease.

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.

Clinicians should be aware that newer understandings of exposure therapy based upon inhibitory learning theory (ILT) place less emphasis upon the importance of habituation. The ILT model emphasises the important of client learning during exposure trials and de-emphasises the important of within-session habituation. Nevertheless, habituation remains a helpful way of socialising clients to exposure therapy.

FAQs

Habituation is the reduction in anxiety responses following repeated exposure to a feared stimulus.
While habituation focuses on reduced anxiety, inhibitory learning emphasizes forming new, non-threatening associations with feared stimuli.
Use it to educate clients on habituation, facilitate discussions about fear and fear reduction, and clarify expectations for exposure therapy.

How This Resource Improves Clinical Outcomes

By clearly explaining the process of habituation, this handout:

  • Provides insights into how and why fear is maintained.
  • Helps clients understand how exposure work.
  • Motivates clients to engage in exposure therapy.

References And Further Reading

  • Benito, K. G., & Walther, M. (2015). Therapeutic process during exposure: habituation model. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 6, 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.