Parents learn how to assist their child in following therapist directed graduated practice of feared situations. This is called exposure therapy . Preteens and teens work independently with the therapist to learn anxiety management skills and to overcome avoidance of feared situations. When the child's behaviors are disruptive, parents learn how to assist the child in anxiety reduction and how to decrease inappropriate acting out. Staff discreetly accompany older children into avoided situations to help them complete exposure practice.
Treatment teaches practical anxiety management skills and how to face feared situations.