Shaping in a particular way, by differentially reinforcing closer and closer approximations to an object that a client fears or avoids?

Contact desensitization

Explanation: This is a participant modeling concept, that is step-wise styles of behavior is performed and analyzed by a therapist for a patient, who then models or practices the action or behavior. Contact desensitization is usually used for the treatment of anxiety or fear where the therapist begins with the least fear-provoking situation to the most feared situation for the patient.

A patient who fears cats, the therapist might begin by moving very close to the cat, then sitting near it, then touch softly , then pickup the cat and caress. Then under the supervision and guidance of the therapist the patient will do the same.

answer; interpreting someone's past consistent with present deviance;