Which of the following techniques is NOT a form of exposure therapy?

Relaxation training is not a form of exposure therapy, and it focuses primarily on helping individuals learn how to reduced anxiety through techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or meditation. The goal of relaxation training is to assist individuals in managing their physiological response to stress or anxiety without directly exposing them to the feared stimuli or situations that provoke anxiety.

In contrast, the other techniques listed involve some aspect of exposure to anxiety-provoking stimuli. In vivo exposure entails real-life exposure to feared situations, while imaginal exposure involves visualizing or imagining the feared scenario. Systematic desensitization combines gradual exposure to the fear-inducing stimuli with relaxation techniques, but the primary aim is to help individuals confront their fears progressively.

Understanding the distinct roles of these techniques is essential as it highlights how exposure therapy specifically seeks to reduce anxiety through direct confrontation with fear rather than through indirect anxiety management methods like relaxation training.