Virtual systematic desensitization Systematic desensitization reduces clients’ fears by exposing them to feared objects in a gradual, step-by-step manner. Thanks to modern technology, this can be accomplished through virtual reality, which immerses clients in a computer-generated environment. In the photo, a client with spider phobia (an excessive fear of spiders) confronts her fear in a virtual environment (Hoffman et al., 2003), which gives people the virtual experience of interacting with a spider.