{"id":28857,"date":"2024-11-06T03:50:24","date_gmt":"2024-11-06T08:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/blog\/systematic-desensitization-when-anxiety-is-the-obstacle-to-your-clients-goal\/"},"modified":"2024-11-06T03:50:24","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T08:50:24","slug":"systematic-desensitization-when-anxiety-is-the-obstacle-to-your-clients-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/blog\/systematic-desensitization-when-anxiety-is-the-obstacle-to-your-clients-goal\/","title":{"rendered":"Systematic Desensitization: When Anxiety is the Obstacle to your Client\u2019s Goal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Certain tasks or situations can create a lot of anxiety for clients, which can then become an obstacle to achieving their desired outcome. Anxiety around the scope of the goal, about what others will think, of success, failure, of letting themselves or others down. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What happens?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The client avoids and\/or postpones the task or situation, which often reinforces the avoidant behavior, which then leads to further anxiety, and thus creates a vicious cycle and habit loop of procrastination. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, I explore a technique used in psychotherapy for anxiety disorders called Systematic Desensitization (Exposure and Response Therapy) and illustrate how understanding some of the basic concepts of this therapy can help you work with your client in helping them complete and carry out anxiety-inducing tasks and situations to reach their desired goal.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Systematic Desensitization and <\/span><\/b>How can it Help in Coaching Interactions?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

As a Coach, you likely already use some aspects of Systematic Desensitization. An example of this might be supporting a client to approach and face a challenge (exposing the client), that might be a part of a larger challenge (end goal), while they use relaxation and self-soothing techniques and your support along the way. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Systematic Desensitization is a common psychological treatment geared toward helping those with anxiety disorders. In this treatment, the client is gradually exposed to the object or situation that makes them anxious or fearful, while \u00a0supporting them through various relaxation-based techniques. The goal is to help the client overcome the anxiety and\/or fear that is preventing them from achieving their goal. (For more information on this type of therapy, refer to the American Psychological Association<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Note: A coaching interaction is not therapy, and the intent of this article is not that you practice this concept as a therapeutic technique. We are simply exploring the concept behind this technique and using its principles and our understanding thereof to help guide the coaching interaction as we facilitate the client\u2019s progress toward a goal. <\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Components of Systematic Desensitization in coaching can help a client who has clarity around their goal and displays a strong motivation to achieve it. The client should understand and acknowledge the task(s) and what needs to be overcome, all the while being aware that anxiety is the obstacle or interference. Here are some examples of what a client\u2019s goal might be: \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n