I was reading an article directed towards clinicians about desensitization
treatments for panic-inducing specific phobias. One thing they mentioned is
that you put a definite time-limit on the exposure. Agreeing to the time
limit ahead of time with the patient is supposed to make the patient more
receptive to the exposure.

They gave the example of agreeing with the patient that the you-know-what
would stay in the terrarium, and the terrarium would only be in the room for
five minutes. As a patient, this would not be at all comforting, because a)
that means that there is a you-know-what in the OTHER room (what if it
escapes???), and b) the clinician is PERFECTLY FINE with the fact that
there's a you-know-what in a terrarium in their office ALL DAY, and
therefore can't possibly be sympathetic to how distressed I might be
feeling. This also implies that the clinician takes care of it and keeps it
alive, which makes the clinician EVIL and TAINTED because they are actively
contributing to the well-being of a you-know-what.

I think I need desensitization therapy desensitization therapy before I can
undertake phobia desensitization therapy.