The Zig-Zag Model

Many of the fears and phobias presented in therapy are very deep-rooted, and, because of this, the client is simply unable to see any evidence that would cast doubt on why they feel this way. They have become accustomed to avoiding situations, places, people etc so that they do not have to face that which terrifies them and never give the notion that their fear could be groundless any credence at all. When, however, they can at last begin to envisage alternatives, the ‘yin’ and ‘yang’, or ‘black’ and white’ model, could be a very useful technique to try.

This is also known as the ‘zig-zag’ model because in practice the client is actually zigzagging between the long-standing belief that has resulted in their fear and the new belief. They