Role of Behavior Therapists

From my coursework and training in the psychology/social service field as well as from taking an assertiveness class involving behavior therapy concepts, I have discovered the huge impact that behavior therapists have in today's society, not only in psychiatric settings but also in education or childcare settings and businesses. Behavior therapists strive to change an individual's abnormal feelings, thought processes, and behaviors. Modern behavior therapy arose in the 1950's in the United States, Great Britain, and South Africa according to counseling and psychotherapy author Gerald Corey. Setting specific and measurable goals, increasing a client's response skills in an education-centered and natural environment, encouraging self-management, and fostering self-determination and freedom are the basic concepts of behavior therapy. Behavior therapists play unique roles and use various types of behavior therapy when treating clients.

Roles of Behavior Therapists

• Systematically assess the client.
• Identify the client's problem with the client.
• Create the desired behavior.
• Set goals with the client.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the behavior therapy and possibly revise.

Types of Behavior Therapy

1. Counterconditioning and Exposure: Counterconditioning and exposure involve relearning by means of practicing a new response to a particular adverse stimulus that produces negative feelings. Following are two types of counterconditioning and exposure behavior therapy:

• Systematic desensitization: Developed by Joseph Wolpe in 1958, this technique involves the gradual exposure to a series of fears that are subdued when combined with the practice of relaxation techniques. For example, a behavior therapy client who has a fear of dogs, may first be taken to the Humane Society where the dogs are caged; next be exposed to dogs that are not caged; and later be encouraged to touch the dogs.

• Aversive Conditioning: This technique involves the pairing of desirable and undesirable stimuli to discourage undesirable behavior. For example, if a client has a tendency to binge on desserts at social gatherings, and is nauseated by the taste of garlic, the binge eating of desserts is discouraged by sprinkling garlic powder on all the desserts at a social gathering so that the person begins to associate the good taste of desserts with the bad taste of garlic.

2. Operant Conditioning: This type of behavior therapy involves the practice of positive reinforcement (adding rewards) to increase good behavior and negative reinforcement (removing something negative) to decrease bad behavior.

3. Modeling or Observational learning: This technique involves observing another person's manner, either in person or on film, of overcoming a fear. Another technique of modeling is role-playing or behavioral rehearsal, which involves observing more effective behaviors and practicing them in a clinical setting. Role-playing is commonly used in assertiveness training.

4. Cognitive Behavior Therapy: This type of behavior therapy involves replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts to improve feelings and behaviors. My assertiveness class was centered around this technique, which I found to be highly effective.

Sources

Corey, G. (2001). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. Stamford, CT. Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

Davison, G.C., & Neale, J.M. (2001). Abnormal Psychology. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.