This is the one kind of psychotherapy that does not foster awareness. Behaviorists have had success with certain kinds of patients and most therapists incorporate behavioral techniques in their work. These exercises will hopefully eliminate symptoms in something under 20 sessions or so.
Behavioral treatment seems to work best on specific and circumscribed symptoms.
By that I mean it can be useful if you really have no symptom other than your elevator phobia. One problem with behavioral techniques is that they are inconsistently applied in real life, outside the session. This is especially the case when working with children and their families. It can be difficult for parents and schools, with their own styles and busy schedules, to really stick to the reinforcement schedules, limits, and consequences that we specify in session. Still, behavioral techniques, properly applied, can be very useful with some of children's specific problems such as tantrums, bed wetting, toilet training, and phobias.