Exposure therapy with Talkspace online therapy

Exposure therapy is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy used to reduce avoidant and anxious behavior as a response to phobias or trauma triggers. If you experience generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, or struggle with a specific phobia, you may benefit from exposure therapy treatment.

Individuals who do not have symptoms of a mental health condition but have experienced a traumatic event can also benefit from the emotional processing rooted in this approach.

There are a variety of exposure techniques that can be used to reduce a person’s fear response to a stimulus. Individuals will work with their therapist to find the optimum sort of exposure for a given scenario, which may include one or more of the following:

• In Vivo Exposure: This involves real-world exposure to the feared situation. For example, a person with a fear of the ocean might be asked to dip their toes into the water.
• Imaginal Exposure: A person is prompted to mentally confront a fear stimulus by picturing it in their mind. Imaginal exposure is typically used when real-world exposure is not feasible or potentially unsafe.
• Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy: Like the name suggests, this involves using virtual reality technology to expose a person to a fear stimulus in a safe, controlled setting.
• Interoceptive Exposure Primarily: Used for individuals experiencing extreme health anxiety, this approach involves triggering somatic (physical) sensations to help people unlearn their adverse reactions to them.
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy: This entails discussing your trauma in tandem with experiencing it in the real world.

Exposure therapy can be done online, and many prefer online treatment. Talkspace members message their therapist whenever, wherever, and get responses daily, 5 days a week. Live video, audio, and messaging therapy sessions are also available.

The cost of exposure therapy can vary depending on the severity and length of the treatment plan. Many insurance plans will also cover some of the cost of exposure therapy at Talkspace. If you choose to pay out-of-pocket, all Talkspace therapy plans are recurring subscriptions billed automatically with a frequency chosen by you when you sign up. See approximate out-of-pocket pricing for Talkspace plans below:

• Messaging therapy: starting at $69 USD per week
• Video + Messaging therapy: starting at $99 USD per week
• Video + Messaging and Workshops: starting at $109 USD per week

Numerous studies assessing the efficacy of exposure therapy report positive outcomes for specific phobias social anxiety disorder, or chronic PTSD. Some people who engage in exposure therapy find their negative reactions to feared stimuli decrease or weaken, and many find a greater sense of self-efficacy after learning they are capable of confronting a fear or anxiety.

No, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is not the same as exposure therapy. EMDR is a therapeutic technique that helps clients reprocess and process difficult experiences, while exposure therapy focuses on repeated confrontation of fears and anxieties. In EMDR, a person is asked to think about a particular memory while engaging in a series of specific eye movements. Exposure therapy typically involves gradual and controlled exposures to a fear-provoking stimulus in order to overcome anxiety. Both techniques are used to treat various mental health conditions, but they differ in the techniques and approaches they employ.

If your insurance plan covers therapy, it may also cover exposure therapy with Talkspace. More and more insurance plans are covering therapy or counseling, so check with your insurance company to confirm your coverage details for exposure therapy. Learn more about insurance coverage for online exposure therapy at Talkspace.

Some Talkspace therapists offer exposure therapy in their practice. Plans include the ability to message with your therapist daily, and some include live sessions (video, audio, text). Get matched with a Talkspace provider today, and begin the journey towards a happier and healthier you.