Behavioral Intervention

Behavior & Cognitive Behavioral therapy are contrasted with those known as insight therapies and tend to be comparatively short term, focused on the present, and specific in goals. The therapist with a cognitive-behavioral orientation tends to be fairly directive and focused on the client’s presenting problem.

Behavior theory consists of ideas about how human actions and emotions develop, are sustained, and are extinguished through principles of learning.The focus is on the physical, observable, “objective” behavior rather than a client’s internal mental processes (Walsh, p. 123)

Behavior is what a person does, thinks, or feels that can be observed and people are motivated by nature to seek pleasure and avoid pain.

People behave based on their learning, by direct environmental feedback where client's are amenable to change.

Characteristics of behavior therapy include:

Collaborative
Individualized
Step-wise progression
Brevity
Treatment package

The process of behavioral therapy consists of a series of interrelated steps including:

Clarifying the clients problem
Designing a target behavior
Formulating initial goals for therapy
Identifying the maintaining conditions of the target behavior
Designing a treatment plan to change the maintaining conditions
Implementing the treatment plan (treatment procedures)
Evaluating the success of the treatment plan
Conducting follow-up assessment (custom reader, 2008, p. 50, 51)

The focus is on specific target behaviors that can be changed.Learned behaviors that can be unlearned and relearned. You will also learn about Cognitive Behavioral intervention that change cognition (thoughts, beliefs) that are influencing psychological problems (mental illness, interpersonal difficulties, anxiety, etc.) and how the two can be used together.

Unit IV Behavioral Intervention Part 1.ppt

Unit IV Behavioral Intervention Part II-1.ppt