ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests that psychotherapists familiarise themself with the sequence of events by reading several times concerning the nature of the systematic desensitisation programme. Gradually, by carrying out the process regarding each of the tasks in the hierarchy—relaxation, visualisation practice, task, review— psychotherapists together will work through the hierarchy until she reaches Task Ten. Before each visualisation, it is essential that psychotherapists encourage the client to carry out the relaxation exercise, so that she is calm in mind and body before she starts the visualisation. It is imperative as her therapist to emphasise that before she carries out the task in her hierarchy, that she practises the relaxation exercises. Over a period of weeks or months are gradually going to move up through the hierarchy—each time, practising the relaxation exercises before visualising the task several times, and then move on to complete the task in actuality.
