Therapist Materials for Interoceptive Exposures

Abstract

The session in this chapter focuses on the importance of learning to tolerate physical sensations of emotion and to identify automatic thoughts that accompany physical sensations of emotion. Clients learn this by repeatedly practicing interoceptive exposure exercises (such as hyperventilating and breathing through a thin straw) that stimulate sensations associated with negative emotions. The authors encourage the clinicians leading this treatment to always do the exercises along with their clients. This participation demonstrates the full effort of doing the exercise thoroughly by provoking strong physical sensations in the therapists themselves; models the potential for having a nonthreatening experience of physical sensations; and normalizes the challenge of this exercise. Client avoidance and emotion-driven behaviors are bound to emerge through the course of this session.