Bill has always had a terrible fear of dogs, and it causes problems in his life. He tells you that his therapist is having him look at pictures of dogs while trying to remain relaxed. His next step will be to begin interacting with actual dogs and learning to remain relaxed. You might want to reassure him that __________ is often quite successful.

A) skills training
B) flooding therapy
C) cognitive therapy
D) systematic desensitization

Systematic Desensitization

A behavioral therapy technique used to reduce phobic responses and anxiety through gradual exposure to the feared object or situation, combined with relaxation exercises.

Flooding Therapy

A form of behavior therapy used to treat phobias and anxiety disorders by exposing the patient to their fear at full intensity.

Skills Training

A process of teaching specific abilities or competencies to improve performance in a particular area.