Agoraphobia and Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- What is agoraphobia according to DSM-5 criteria?
- What kind of process can be followed with agoraphobia?
- What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
- What is Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
- How to work with agoraphobia from the point of view of “Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy”?
Agoraphobia, defined as a subtype of panic disorder in DSM-IV, has been moved to a separate diagnostic category with DSM-V. Agoraphobia is basically the fear that one will show signs of panic or anxiety because they cannot escape or seek help when they are out of their comfort zone. People often do not go out of their homes that they choose as a comfort zone, they may show extreme anxiety when they have to be in public transport, shopping malls or vehicles necessary for long journeys, or they may prefer to run away to avoid being there; When they have to, they may need to accompany them with them.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and psychotrap drugs seem to be the most effective methods in the treatment of agoraphobia. In this article, we will look at the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy arm of treatment with you.
The cornerstones of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT is the construction of the relationship between these three cornerstones. It can be described as focusing on the thoughts and feelings that underlie our behavior, focusing on uncovering and treating these cognitive errors. Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, on the other hand, is one of the sub-branches of CBT that expands the application area of CBT, which enables CBT applications to be offered to clients online, thanks to websites specially designed for CBT applications to be made over the internet. Unlike other CBT approaches, for Internet-Based CBT, the necessary technological devices for online interviews, online materials to be used in treatment, and CBT techniques websites specially designed for the subject brought by the client to work on are used.
With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Agoraphobia, we can encounter exposure from the perspective of the therapy process. Exposure studies in Internet-Based CBT programs can be done with virtual reality. For virtual reality, websites that are completely under the control of the therapist, specially selected and designed for the client, can be used to make the client feel as if they are in the chosen environment. In these sites where the level of exposure is in the hands of the therapist, it starts with a low amount of exposure and if the therapist wants to get out of this environment where the therapist is with the client, it should be assured that this virtual reality under the control of the therapist will end. Then, in accordance with the exposure protocols, the anxiety level of the client is studied by being kept in the environment gradually, by increasing the reality level of the environment. In the continuation of the treatment process of the client, appropriate ways are selected with the therapist.
Today, we took a brief look at Agoraphobia and Internet-Based CBT. With our expert staff, we are always ready to assist you and be at your side. You can always contact us for detailed information.
Specialist Clinical Psychologist Damla Kankaya Sünteroğlu
Psychology Student Nesrin Aydın
PsychoTerap-IST Training and Counseling Center
