What type of therapy focuses on gradually exposing patients to their fears?

The type of therapy that focuses on gradually exposing patients to their fears is exposure therapy. This therapeutic approach is designed to help individuals confront and reduce their anxiety or fear responses by systematically and gradually exposing them to the source of their fear in a controlled and therapeutic environment. The key aspect of exposure therapy is that it helps to desensitize the patient to the feared object or situation over time, allowing them to manage their reactions and diminish the fear associated with it.

Exposure therapy is widely used for various anxiety disorders, including phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Bypassing avoidance behavior, which often reinforces fear, exposure therapy enables patients to face their anxiety in a way that encourages coping and reduces the overall fear response.

Behavioral therapy, while related, encompasses a broader range of techniques beyond just exposure. Psychodynamic therapy focuses on unconscious processes and emotional conflicts rather than direct exposure to fears. Cognitive therapy primarily deals with changing unhealthy thought patterns, rather than the gradual exposure to fears. Therefore, exposure therapy specifically targets the mechanism of fear and anxiety reduction through confrontation, making it the right answer for the question.