In reconsolidation therapy, multiple sessions over days or weeks are crucial for someone trying to overcome a phobia, such as an intense fear of dogs stemming from a childhood dog bite, to gradually integrate new, non-threatening experiences with dogs, thereby reducing the distress linked to the original trauma. This approach allows the individual to create new associations and experiences that counteract the fear response, facilitating a healthier, more adaptive perspective towards dogs over time. The process of revisiting and reprocessing the traumatic memory in conjunction with positive experiences helps in reconsolidating memory and reducing the intensity of the phobia.
In reconsolidation therapy, why are multiple sessions over days or weeks crucial for someone trying to overcome a phobia, such as an intense fear of dogs stemming from a childhood dog bite?
To gradually integrate new, non-threatening experiences with dogs, thereby reducing the distress linked to the original trauma
To enhance the intensity and impact of the original dog bite memory
To make the original traumatic memory of the dog bite more difficult to recall
To prevent any new learning about dogs, maintaining the original fear response
1 answer