Table 4.

Example Specific Phobia Exposure Exercises

Session 4
BEFORE exposure:
Goal:	Stand on the sideline within 10 yards of a dog for 15 minutes at a soccer match
What are you most worried will happen?	Before 10 minutes are up, a dog will bite me
On scale 0–100, how likely does this seem?	99%
AFTER exposure:
Did what you were most worried about occur? Y or N	No
How do you know?	The dog never approached me
What did you learn?	I can probably stand on the sideline for a whole game and not get bitten
Session 5
BEFORE exposure:
Goal:	Pet [her friend] Katie’s dog for 30 minutes
What are you most worried will happen?	He will bite me
On scale 0–100, how likely does this seem?	85%
AFTER exposure:
Did what you were most worried about occur? Y or N	No
How do you know?	He never bit me and seemed to enjoy my company (licked my hand, stayed in my lap)
What did you learn?	Some dogs do not bite when they are petted
Session 10
BEFORE exposure:
Goal:	Watch a whole soccer game (90 minutes) while seated on the ground, holding the leashes of two dogs [that belong to her teammates’]
What are you most worried will happen?	Dog will bite me and I won’t be in a position to defend myself or run away
On scale 0–100, how likely does this seem?	70%
AFTER exposure:
Did what you were most worried about occur? Y or N	No
How do you know?	The dogs did not make any menacing gestures and seemed to get used to me over time
What did you learn?	I can be in a relatively vulnerable position around dogs