exposure (therapy)
Exposure is a therapeutic technique in which individuals are gradually and systematically confronted with situations, objects, thoughts, or physical sensations that they find distressing or avoid. The goal is to reduce fear and avoidance, promote new learning, and build tolerance through direct experience. Exposure techniques are used in various evidence-based treatments, including those for anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and certain phobias.