Therapies and Their pracTical applicaTions
BEHAVIOUR THERAPY:
Behavioural therapy is a term that describes a broad range of techniques used to change
maladaptive behaviours. The goal is to reinforce desirable behaviours and eliminate unwanted
ones.
Rooted in the principles of behaviourism, a school of thought focused on the idea that we learn
from our environment, this approach emerged during the early part of the 20th-century and
became a dominant force in the field for many years. Edward Thorndike was one of the first to
refer to the idea of modifying behaviour.
Unlike the types of therapy that are rooted in insight (such as psychoanalytic therapy and
humanistic therapies), behavioural therapy is action-based. Because of this, behavioural
therapy tends to be highly focused. The behaviour itself is the problem and the goal is to teach
people new behaviours to minimize or eliminate the issue.
TYPES OF BEHAVIORAL THERAPY:
There are a number of different types of behavioral therapy. The type of therapy used can
depend on a variety of factors, including the condition being treated and the severity of the
person's symptoms.
Applied behavior analysis uses operant conditioning to shape and modify
problematic behaviors.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) relies on behavioral techniques, but the
difference is that CBT adds a cognitive element, focusing on the problematic thoughts
behind behaviors.
Cognitive behavioral play therapy utilizes play to assess, prevent, or treat
psychosocial challenges. The therapist may use play to help a child learn how to think
and behave differently.
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a form of CBT that utilizes both behavioral
and cognitive techniques to help people learn to manage their emotions, cope with
distress, and improve interpersonal relationships.
Exposure therapy utilizes behavioral techniques to help people overcome their fears
of situations or objects. This approach incorporates techniques that expose people to
the source of their fears while practicing relaxation strategies. It is useful for treating
specific phobias and other forms of anxiety.
Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) focuses on identifying negative or
destructive thoughts and feelings. People then actively challenge those thoughts and
replace them with more rational, realistic ones.
Social learning theory centers on how people learn through observation. Observing
others being rewarded or punished for their actions can lead to learning and behavior
change.
,WHAT ARE BEHAVIOR THERAPY TECHNIQUES:
In order to understand how behavioral therapy works, it is important to know more about the
basic principles that contribute to behavioral therapy. The techniques used in this type of
treatment are based on the theories of classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Classical Conditioning:
Classical conditioning involves forming associations between stimuli. Previously neutral
stimuli are paired with a stimulus that naturally and automatically evokes a response. After
repeated pairings, an association is formed and the previously neutral stimulus will come to
evoke the response on its own.
Classical conditioning is one way to alter behavior. Several different techniques and
strategies are used in this approach to therapy.
Aversion therapy: This process involves pairing an undesirable behavior with an
aversive stimulus in the hope that the unwanted behavior will eventually be reduced.
For example, someone with an alcohol use disorder might take Antabuse (disulfiram),
a drug that causes severe symptoms (such as headaches, nausea, anxiety, and
vomiting) when combined with alcohol.3
Flooding: This process involves exposing people to fear-invoking objects or
situations intensely and rapidly. It is often used to treat phobias. During the process,
the individual is prevented from escaping or avoiding the situation.
Systematic desensitization: In this technique, people make a list of fears and then
learn to relax while concentrating on these fears. Starting with the least fear-inducing
item and working their way to the most fear-inducing item, people systematically
confront these fears under the guidance of a therapist. Systematic desensitization is
often used to treat phobias and other anxiety disorders.2
Operant Conditioning:
Operant conditioning focuses on how reinforcement and punishment can be utilized to either
increase or decrease the frequency of a behavior. Behaviors followed by desirable
consequences are more likely to occur again in the future, while those followed by negative
consequences become less likely to occur.
Behavioral therapy techniques use reinforcement, punishment, shaping, modeling, and related
techniques to alter behavior. These methods have the benefit of being highly focused, which
means they can produce fast and effective results.
Contingency management: This approach uses a formal written contract between a
client and a therapist (or parent or teacher) that outlines behavior-change goals,
reinforcements, rewards, and penalties. Contingency contracts can be very effective in
producing behavior changes since the rules are spelled out clearly, preventing both
parties from backing down on their promises.
Extinction: Another way to produce behavior change is to stop reinforcing behavior
in order to eliminate the response. Time-outs are a perfect example of the extinction
, process. During a time-out, a person is removed from a situation that provides
reinforcement. By taking away what the person found rewarding, unwanted behavior
is eventually extinguished.
Behavior modeling: This technique involves learning through observation and
modeling the behavior of others. Rather than relying simply on reinforcement or
punishment, modeling allows individuals to learn new skills or acceptable behaviors
by watching someone else perform those desired skills.
Token economies: This strategy relies on reinforcement to modify behavior. Parents
and teachers often use token economies, allowing kids to earn tokens for engaging in
preferred behaviors and lose tokens for undesirable behaviors. These tokens can then
be traded for rewards such as candy, toys, or extra time playing with a favorite toy.
WHAT BEHAVIROL THERAPY CAN HELP WITH:
Behavioral therapy can be utilized to treat a wide range of psychological conditions and
disorders, including:
Bipolar disorder5
Alcohol and substance use disorders
Anxiety
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Autism spectrum disorders
Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
Depression
Eating disorders
Panic disorder
Phobias
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Behavioral therapy is problem-focused and action-oriented. For this reason, it can also be
useful for addressing specific psychological concerns such as anger management and stress
management.
BENEFITS OF BEHAVIORAL THERAPY:
Behavioral therapy is widely used and has been shown to be effective in treating a number of
different conditions. Cognitive behavioral therapy, in particular, is often considered the "gold
standard" in the treatment of many disorders, and cognitive behavioral play therapy,
specifically, can be effective for children where other types of therapy aren’t.
CBT is often more affordable than other types of therapy and results are often seen in five to
20 sessions.Research has shown that CBT is most effective for the treatment of:
Anger issues
Anxiety
Bulimia
Depression
, Somatic symptom disorder
Stress
Substance abuse and relapse prevention11
In addition, behavioral therapy has been found to help people with the following:
Communication
Coping strategies
Healthier thought patterns
Self-esteem
THINGS TO CONSIDER IN BEHAVIORAL THERAPY:
Behavioral therapy has a number of advantages. However, behavioral approaches are not
always the best solution.
It's Not Enough for Complex Mental Health Conditions:
When treating certain psychiatric disorders such as severe depression and schizophrenia,
behavioral therapy often must be used in conjunction with other medical and therapeutic
treatments. Behavioral therapy can help clients manage or cope with certain aspects of these
psychiatric conditions, but should not be used alone.
It May Not Account for Underlying Problems:
Behavioral treatments tend to focus on current problems with functioning and may not fully
appreciate or address the underlying factors that are contributing to a mental health problem.
It May Not Address the Whole Picture:
Behavioral approaches are centered on the individual working to change their behaviors.
Some of these approaches, however, often don't address how situations and interpersonal
relationships might be contributing to a person's problems.
HOW TO GET STARTED THE THERAPY:
If you are interested in behavioral therapy, there are some things that you can do to get the
most out of your treatment.
Find a behavioral therapist. Some mental health professionals who can provide
behavioral therapy include counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social
workers.
Ask for recommendations. If you aren't sure where to begin your search, it can be
helpful to ask your primary care physician for a referral.
Contact your health insurance. Find out if your plan covers behavioral therapy and,
if so, how many sessions.
Set goals. Once you begin treatment, discuss your goals. Knowing what you hope to
accomplish can help you and your therapist create an effective treatment plan.
BEHAVIOUR THERAPY:
Behavioural therapy is a term that describes a broad range of techniques used to change
maladaptive behaviours. The goal is to reinforce desirable behaviours and eliminate unwanted
ones.
Rooted in the principles of behaviourism, a school of thought focused on the idea that we learn
from our environment, this approach emerged during the early part of the 20th-century and
became a dominant force in the field for many years. Edward Thorndike was one of the first to
refer to the idea of modifying behaviour.
Unlike the types of therapy that are rooted in insight (such as psychoanalytic therapy and
humanistic therapies), behavioural therapy is action-based. Because of this, behavioural
therapy tends to be highly focused. The behaviour itself is the problem and the goal is to teach
people new behaviours to minimize or eliminate the issue.
TYPES OF BEHAVIORAL THERAPY:
There are a number of different types of behavioral therapy. The type of therapy used can
depend on a variety of factors, including the condition being treated and the severity of the
person's symptoms.
Applied behavior analysis uses operant conditioning to shape and modify
problematic behaviors.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) relies on behavioral techniques, but the
difference is that CBT adds a cognitive element, focusing on the problematic thoughts
behind behaviors.
Cognitive behavioral play therapy utilizes play to assess, prevent, or treat
psychosocial challenges. The therapist may use play to help a child learn how to think
and behave differently.
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a form of CBT that utilizes both behavioral
and cognitive techniques to help people learn to manage their emotions, cope with
distress, and improve interpersonal relationships.
Exposure therapy utilizes behavioral techniques to help people overcome their fears
of situations or objects. This approach incorporates techniques that expose people to
the source of their fears while practicing relaxation strategies. It is useful for treating
specific phobias and other forms of anxiety.
Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) focuses on identifying negative or
destructive thoughts and feelings. People then actively challenge those thoughts and
replace them with more rational, realistic ones.
Social learning theory centers on how people learn through observation. Observing
others being rewarded or punished for their actions can lead to learning and behavior
change.
,WHAT ARE BEHAVIOR THERAPY TECHNIQUES:
In order to understand how behavioral therapy works, it is important to know more about the
basic principles that contribute to behavioral therapy. The techniques used in this type of
treatment are based on the theories of classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Classical Conditioning:
Classical conditioning involves forming associations between stimuli. Previously neutral
stimuli are paired with a stimulus that naturally and automatically evokes a response. After
repeated pairings, an association is formed and the previously neutral stimulus will come to
evoke the response on its own.
Classical conditioning is one way to alter behavior. Several different techniques and
strategies are used in this approach to therapy.
Aversion therapy: This process involves pairing an undesirable behavior with an
aversive stimulus in the hope that the unwanted behavior will eventually be reduced.
For example, someone with an alcohol use disorder might take Antabuse (disulfiram),
a drug that causes severe symptoms (such as headaches, nausea, anxiety, and
vomiting) when combined with alcohol.3
Flooding: This process involves exposing people to fear-invoking objects or
situations intensely and rapidly. It is often used to treat phobias. During the process,
the individual is prevented from escaping or avoiding the situation.
Systematic desensitization: In this technique, people make a list of fears and then
learn to relax while concentrating on these fears. Starting with the least fear-inducing
item and working their way to the most fear-inducing item, people systematically
confront these fears under the guidance of a therapist. Systematic desensitization is
often used to treat phobias and other anxiety disorders.2
Operant Conditioning:
Operant conditioning focuses on how reinforcement and punishment can be utilized to either
increase or decrease the frequency of a behavior. Behaviors followed by desirable
consequences are more likely to occur again in the future, while those followed by negative
consequences become less likely to occur.
Behavioral therapy techniques use reinforcement, punishment, shaping, modeling, and related
techniques to alter behavior. These methods have the benefit of being highly focused, which
means they can produce fast and effective results.
Contingency management: This approach uses a formal written contract between a
client and a therapist (or parent or teacher) that outlines behavior-change goals,
reinforcements, rewards, and penalties. Contingency contracts can be very effective in
producing behavior changes since the rules are spelled out clearly, preventing both
parties from backing down on their promises.
Extinction: Another way to produce behavior change is to stop reinforcing behavior
in order to eliminate the response. Time-outs are a perfect example of the extinction
, process. During a time-out, a person is removed from a situation that provides
reinforcement. By taking away what the person found rewarding, unwanted behavior
is eventually extinguished.
Behavior modeling: This technique involves learning through observation and
modeling the behavior of others. Rather than relying simply on reinforcement or
punishment, modeling allows individuals to learn new skills or acceptable behaviors
by watching someone else perform those desired skills.
Token economies: This strategy relies on reinforcement to modify behavior. Parents
and teachers often use token economies, allowing kids to earn tokens for engaging in
preferred behaviors and lose tokens for undesirable behaviors. These tokens can then
be traded for rewards such as candy, toys, or extra time playing with a favorite toy.
WHAT BEHAVIROL THERAPY CAN HELP WITH:
Behavioral therapy can be utilized to treat a wide range of psychological conditions and
disorders, including:
Bipolar disorder5
Alcohol and substance use disorders
Anxiety
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Autism spectrum disorders
Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
Depression
Eating disorders
Panic disorder
Phobias
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Behavioral therapy is problem-focused and action-oriented. For this reason, it can also be
useful for addressing specific psychological concerns such as anger management and stress
management.
BENEFITS OF BEHAVIORAL THERAPY:
Behavioral therapy is widely used and has been shown to be effective in treating a number of
different conditions. Cognitive behavioral therapy, in particular, is often considered the "gold
standard" in the treatment of many disorders, and cognitive behavioral play therapy,
specifically, can be effective for children where other types of therapy aren’t.
CBT is often more affordable than other types of therapy and results are often seen in five to
20 sessions.Research has shown that CBT is most effective for the treatment of:
Anger issues
Anxiety
Bulimia
Depression
, Somatic symptom disorder
Stress
Substance abuse and relapse prevention11
In addition, behavioral therapy has been found to help people with the following:
Communication
Coping strategies
Healthier thought patterns
Self-esteem
THINGS TO CONSIDER IN BEHAVIORAL THERAPY:
Behavioral therapy has a number of advantages. However, behavioral approaches are not
always the best solution.
It's Not Enough for Complex Mental Health Conditions:
When treating certain psychiatric disorders such as severe depression and schizophrenia,
behavioral therapy often must be used in conjunction with other medical and therapeutic
treatments. Behavioral therapy can help clients manage or cope with certain aspects of these
psychiatric conditions, but should not be used alone.
It May Not Account for Underlying Problems:
Behavioral treatments tend to focus on current problems with functioning and may not fully
appreciate or address the underlying factors that are contributing to a mental health problem.
It May Not Address the Whole Picture:
Behavioral approaches are centered on the individual working to change their behaviors.
Some of these approaches, however, often don't address how situations and interpersonal
relationships might be contributing to a person's problems.
HOW TO GET STARTED THE THERAPY:
If you are interested in behavioral therapy, there are some things that you can do to get the
most out of your treatment.
Find a behavioral therapist. Some mental health professionals who can provide
behavioral therapy include counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social
workers.
Ask for recommendations. If you aren't sure where to begin your search, it can be
helpful to ask your primary care physician for a referral.
Contact your health insurance. Find out if your plan covers behavioral therapy and,
if so, how many sessions.
Set goals. Once you begin treatment, discuss your goals. Knowing what you hope to
accomplish can help you and your therapist create an effective treatment plan.
