Therapeutic Role-Playing for Phobia Treatment

Therapeutic Role-Playing for Phobia Treatment Phobias Treatment Print Therapeutic Role-Playing for Phobia Treatment By Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics. Learn about our editorial policy Lisa Fritscher Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on April 12, 2019 nullplus / Getty Images More in Phobias Treatment Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Types Therapeutic role-playing has proved to be an effective treatment for phobia sufferers, who often believe that a feared situation is inherently dangerous. This type of therapy allows a therapist and patient to act out scenarios that are difficult for the phobia sufferer. Through role-playing, the patient learns new behaviors to help overcome their particular phobia. Treating Phobias Many professionals believe that the most important causes of phobias are the environmental triggers and learned behaviors. They argue that a phobia is ultimately a learned response to a stimulus. By “unlearning” the response and substituting rational reactions, the phobia can be cured. This model favors therapy as a preferred treatment. Many phobia sufferers are best treated with a combination of medication and therapy. Most psychiatrists do not perform the types of therapy best suited to phobia treatment. Therefore, psychiatrists and therapists often form referral networks to help clients meet both needs. Mental health centers often have a range of mental health specialists on staff, offering their clients a one-stop solution. Individual Therapy for Phobias Individual therapy, which can include therapeutic role-playing, allows the therapist and client to focus on each other, building a rapport and working together to solve the clients issue. However,  psychoanalysis and related therapies may progress for months or even  years,  while  brief therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT can produce results in just a few sessions. How Does Role-Playing Therapy Work? Therapeutic role-playing is a technique that allows a person with a phobia to practice new behaviors. In a role-playing session, the therapist takes the identity of someone that the person is afraid to confront, such as a parent or employer. The person then interacts with the therapist, utilizing behaviors that she has learned during therapy. After the role-playing session is complete, a debriefing takes place in which the client and therapist discuss what happened and ways to improve the interaction. This technique can be particularly helpful for those dealing with social phobia, germ phobia, or other interpersonal phobias. How Does Role-Playing Therapy Help? When someone with a phobia is interacting with a therapist, he or she can put to use the new behaviors that were learned during treatment. Many people with phobias suffer from social or interpersonal fears that prevent them from actively participating in some aspect of their lives. Role-Playing Therapy can help people overcome their fears by learning new behavioral techniques. How well role-playing works often depends on the severity of the phobia. A good mental health professional will customize a treatment plan for the patient, which may include role-playing therapy. The 9 Best Online Therapy Programs