This component of ERP involves the patient imagining the trigger rather being directly exposed to it. This is used in place of exposure in vivo for triggers that may be harmful for the therapist to expose the patient to in real life. If for example the patient is afraid of being infected with a serious disease if they go to a park and don't immediately wash their hands, the therapist can't in vivo them getting infected by a grave disease to expose them to their fear so they must take an imaginal approach instead to decrease the fear of getting sick by going to a park.