Experiential training reduces negative beliefs about exposure therapy and improves guideline knowledge

Exposure therapy is an effective first-line treatment for anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive–compulsive disorder; however, it remains underutilized in clinical practice. This study examined whether participation in an experiential semester-long course influenced psychology students’ beliefs about exposure therapy and their knowledge of its guideline-consistent implementation. We hypothesized that participation would promote more positive beliefs about exposure therapy and greater knowledge of its evidence-based implementation. We also examined whether these effects were moderated by students’ anxiety sensitivity, given evidence that higher therapist anxiety is associated with less frequent use of exposure therapy. Seventy-two students participated in a course combining theoretical instruction with experiential exercises, during which they conducted exposure exercises targeting their own subclinical fears. Questionnaires assessing negative beliefs about exposure therapy, knowledge of guideline-consistent exposure therapy, therapist safety behaviors, and reasons for excluding clients from exposure therapy, were administered at baseline, post-course, and at a 6-month follow-up. Participants reported significantly fewer negative beliefs about exposure therapy and increased adherence to guideline-consistent practices at both post-course and follow-up assessments. Anxiety sensitivity did not moderate these effects. These findings suggest that experiential training may promote more favorable beliefs about exposure therapy and facilitate adherence to evidence-based guidelines. Future research should examine the long-term persistence of these effects and whether they translate into therapists’ clinical practice.