Desensitization Protocols

Most people have things that bother them or that they avoid, if possible. However, if they are confronted with one of these things, they can deal with the situation and move on. Some people are bothered so badly by things, such as a texture of a material, that they can't focus on anything else until the item is gone. This type of sensitivity can disrupt lives and needs to be dealt with. Therapists use a desensitization protocol to help patients deal with their sensitivity.

Determination

• When working with someone who has a severe sensitivity to something, it is important to determine the parameters of the sensitivity. This means testing the person's tolerance to items that are similar to the known item that stimulates the sensitivity behavior. For example, if a person has difficulty eating soft foods, it would be important to determine if the issue is with all soft foods, or only soft foods that are warm. Once the parameters of the sensitivity are determined, a plan of treatment can be created.

Reintroduction

• According to therapist Missy Osbeck, most patients are provided a time that is free of the item causing their sensitivity at the beginning of treatment. This time is used to create trust in the therapist and to help the patient to become comfortable. The item that is the source of the patient's sensitivity is reintroduced after a few sessions. The reintroduction is done in a limited manner. This may mean the item is present only for a minute or two and then put away or that the patient has to touch it a certain number of times. The goal of reintroduction is to help the patient start to process their feelings about the item.

Increased Interaction

• Once the patient has started to accept the presence of the item they are sensitive to for a limited amount of time, the therapist will increase the interaction. This may mean that it is present for a longer amount of time. For patients with texture sensitivity, such as wearing long sleeves, they may be asked to wear slip on sleeves during part of the session. The therapist will continue to increase the interaction as the therapy sessions continue.

Acceptance

• Eventually, the patient will come to a place of acceptance and the item that had caused the sensitivity issues will no longer bother him. This is when the desensitization protocol is complete. Once the patient reaches acceptance, either the therapy time is over or the patient will begin to work on a different sensitivity issue.