When exposure therapy works, you stop planning your life around what scares you. The elevator you’ve avoided for months becomes just an elevator. Social events become opportunities instead of ordeals you have to survive.
You make decisions based on what you want, not what might trigger your anxiety. Those intrusive thoughts that used to hijack your entire day lose their power. You sleep better because your mind isn’t racing through worst-case scenarios.
This isn’t about learning to “cope better” with your fears. This is about eliminating the avoidance patterns that keep anxiety alive, so you can live the life you actually want.
At the Anxiety and OCD Institute, we combine nationally recognized researchers with clinicians who understand anxiety from the inside out. Many of our team members are anxiety survivors themselves, bringing both clinical expertise and genuine empathy to your treatment.
We’ve been serving Arlington and the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area through both virtual and in-person sessions. Our approach works because we don’t just treat symptoms—we address the underlying patterns that keep you stuck.
Arlington residents choose us when other treatments haven’t worked well enough. You’re dealing with real problems that deserve real solutions, not generic advice that sounds good but doesn’t actually change anything.
First, we map out exactly what you’re dealing with. Which situations send your anxiety through the roof? What thoughts keep you awake at 3 AM? What are you avoiding that’s actually making your life smaller?
Then we build your personalized exposure plan. No surprises, no pressure tactics. Each step builds naturally on the last one. You might start by simply thinking about your fear, then looking at pictures, then gradually working up to real-world situations.
During exposures, you’ll face your fears in a completely controlled environment. Yes, it’s uncomfortable at first—like jumping into cold water. But that discomfort fades as your brain learns that the thing you feared isn’t actually dangerous.
Between sessions, you’ll practice what you’ve learned. These homework assignments aren’t busy work—they’re how you build the confidence and skills that stick long after treatment ends.
Ready to get started?
Arlington residents have access to both traditional exposure therapy and virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET). We offer flexible scheduling with in-person sessions and virtual appointments that fit your busy life.
Virtual reality exposure therapy brings impossible scenarios into the treatment room. Afraid of flying? We can simulate turbulence without leaving the office. Social anxiety about public speaking? Practice with a virtual audience that responds exactly how we program them to.
For PTSD, VRET allows us to gradually expose you to trauma-related triggers in a completely safe environment. You’re always in control, and we can adjust the intensity in real-time based on how you’re responding.
Arlington’s fast-paced lifestyle means you need treatment that works efficiently. Whether you’re dealing with workplace anxiety, social phobias, or trauma from past experiences, we tailor every session to address the specific challenges you face in your daily life.
For specific phobias, you might see significant improvement in just a few sessions. Research shows exposure therapy helps over 90% of people with phobias who complete treatment. Some people notice changes after just one or two exposures.
More complex conditions like PTSD typically require 8 to 15 sessions over three months using prolonged exposure therapy. Social anxiety often improves within 6 to 12 sessions, depending on how severe your symptoms are and how consistently you practice between sessions.
The key factor is your willingness to engage with the exposures. People who do their homework assignments and practice regularly see faster, more lasting results. Your brain needs repeated exposure to learn that the things you fear aren’t actually dangerous.
Yes, research consistently shows that virtual reality exposure therapy produces results comparable to traditional in-person exposure. In some cases, it’s actually more effective because we can control every aspect of the experience.
VRET offers advantages that aren’t possible with real-world exposures. We can create scenarios that would be expensive, dangerous, or impossible to arrange otherwise. For social anxiety, we can program virtual audiences to respond in specific ways. For PTSD, we can gradually adjust trauma-related triggers in real-time.
Many people find VRET more acceptable because they know they’re in a completely safe environment. This increased willingness to engage often leads to better outcomes. You get the full benefits of exposure therapy without the logistical challenges of arranging real-world scenarios.
You’ll experience some discomfort during exposures—that’s actually how the treatment works. But this discomfort is temporary and manageable, not the overwhelming panic you might be imagining.
Think of it like physical therapy after an injury. The exercises might be uncomfortable, but they’re healing you, not harming you. We start with easier exposures and gradually work up to more challenging ones. You’re always in control and can pause if needed.
Most people find that the temporary discomfort during exposures is much less intense than the chronic anxiety they’ve been living with. After a few sessions, you’ll start to see that facing your fears isn’t as terrible as you expected. That’s when real change begins to happen.
Absolutely. Many of our Arlington clients come to us after other treatments haven’t provided the relief they were hoping for. Exposure therapy works differently than talk therapy or medication management.
Previous treatments might have helped you understand your anxiety better or taught you coping skills, but they didn’t address the avoidance behaviors that keep fear alive. Exposure therapy directly targets these avoidance patterns, which is why it’s so effective even when other approaches haven’t worked.
We’ve helped hundreds of people who felt stuck after trying multiple therapists or treatments. The key is working with someone who specializes in exposure-based treatments and understands how to implement them properly. Your past treatment experiences don’t predict your future success.
Yes, we provide both virtual and in-person exposure therapy sessions for Arlington residents. Virtual appointments work particularly well for social anxiety, specific phobias, and certain types of PTSD treatment.
Online sessions offer several advantages: no travel time, treatment in your natural environment, and access to specialized therapists regardless of your location. Many exposures can be done effectively through virtual sessions, especially when combined with virtual reality technology.
Some exposures work better in person, particularly those that involve physical movement or real-world environments. We’ll discuss what combination of virtual and in-person sessions makes the most sense for your specific situation during your initial consultation.
Your first session focuses entirely on assessment and planning—no exposures yet. We’ll discuss your specific fears, triggers, and how anxiety impacts your daily life in Arlington. This helps us create a treatment plan that’s tailored to your exact situation.
We’ll explain exactly how exposure therapy works, address your concerns, and answer all your questions. You’ll learn why exposure therapy is so effective and what you can expect from treatment. By the end of the session, you’ll have a clear roadmap for moving forward.
Most people leave their first appointment feeling hopeful and confident about treatment. You’ll understand that exposure therapy isn’t about throwing you into your worst fears—it’s about systematically and safely helping you reclaim your life from anxiety.
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