John's therapist gave him a relaxation exercise to practice. He also asked him to list ten different situations in which his phobia caused him to be afraid. The therapist required that the situations be rated from least frightening to most frightening. The therapist is probably going to use a technique called

Reframing is a cognitive therapy technique that involves changing the way a person perceives a situation to alter its meaning and emotional impact. While it can be beneficial in addressing phobias, it does not specifically involve a structured exposure to fear-inducing situations as systematic desensitization does.

Shaping is a behavioral technique that reinforces successive approximations toward a desired behavior. This approach is more focused on gradually guiding behavior change rather than addressing phobias through exposure and relaxation techniques. It is not directly applicable to the process described in the question.

Aversive conditioning involves associating an undesirable behavior with an unpleasant stimulus to deter that behavior. This technique is not suitable for treating phobias as it could increase anxiety rather than reduce it. Systematic desensitization, in contrast, aims to lessen fear through gradual exposure.