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.
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.
