1. Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy TENTH EDITION
Gerald Corey
Cengage Learning

2. Chapter 9
Behavior Therapy

3. Four Areas of Development (slide 1 of 2)
1. Classical (or Respondent) Conditioning
Refers to what happens prior to learning that creates a response through pairing
2. Operant Conditioning
Focuses on a type of learning in which behaviors are influenced mainly by the consequences that follow them
Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 9 (1)

4. Four Areas of Development (slide 2 of 2)
3. Social-Learning (or Social-Cognitive) Approach
Gives prominence to the triadic reciprocal interaction between an individual’s behavior, personal factors, and the environment
4. Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Social skills training, cognitive therapy, stress management training, mindfulness, and acceptance-based practices all represent the cognitive behavioral tradition
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5. Behavior Therapy (slide 1 of 3)
A set of clinical procedures relying on experimental findings of psychological research
Based on principles of learning that are systematically applied
Focus is on the client’s current problems and on assessing behavior through observation or self-monitoring
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6. Behavior Therapy (slide 2 of 3)
Largely action-oriented and educational – therapist teaches clients skills of self-management
Behavior is something that can be operationally defined; it includes overt actions as well as internal processes
Change can take place without insight into underlying dynamics and the origins of a psychological problem
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7. Behavior Therapy (slide 3 of 3)
Behaviorists ask: “What treatment, by whom, is the most effective for this individual with that specific problem and under which set of circumstances?”
The general goals of behavior therapy are to increase personal choice and to create new conditions for learning
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8. Functional Assessment of Behavior
A-B-C model
Antecedent(s)
Behavior(s)
Consequence(s) A B
BehaBvior C
Consequence
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9. Operant Conditioning Positive and negative reinforcement
Goal: to increase target behavior
Extinction
Goal: to decrease or eliminate a behavior by withholding reinforcement from a previously reinforced response
Positive and negative punishment
Goal: to decrease target behavior
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10. Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Progressive muscle relaxation is a popular method of teaching people to cope with the stresses produced by daily living
Relaxation becomes a well-learned response, which can become a habitual pattern if practiced daily
Relaxation procedures have been applied to a variety of clinical problems ranging from chronic pain to panic disorder
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11. Systematic Desensitization
Based on classical conditioning, SD was developed by Joseph Wolpe
SD is effective in reducing maladaptive anxiety and treating anxiety-related disorders, particularly specific phobias
SD entails relaxation training, development of a graduated anxiety hierarchy, and presentation of hierarchy items while client is deeply relaxed
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12. Exposure Therapies (slide 1 of 2)
In Vivo Desensitization
Involves client exposure to the actual anxiety-evoking events rather than simply imagining these situations
Flooding
In vivo or imaginal exposure to anxiety-evoking stimuli for a prolonged period of time without the feared consequences
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13. Exposure Therapies (slide 2 of 2)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
An exposure-based therapy
Involves imaginal flooding, cognitive restructuring, and the use of rhythmic eye movements and other bilateral stimulation to treat traumatic stress disorders
Extensive research has validated EMDR
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14. Social Skills Training
Helps clients develop and achieve skills in interpersonal competence
May involve behavioral procedures (e.g., psychoeducation, modeling, behavior rehearsal, and feedback)
If clients can correct their problematic behaviors in practice situations, they can then apply these new skills in daily life
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15. Self-Management Programs
In S-M programs people make decisions concerning specific behaviors they want to control or change
The process includes selecting goals, translating goals into target behaviors, self-monitoring, working out a plan for change, and evaluating an action plan
S-M strategies have been successfully applied to many populations and problems
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16. Multimodal Therapy
A comprehensive, systematic, holistic approach to behavior therapy developed by Arnold Lazarus
Grounded in social-cognitive theory
Applies diverse behavioral techniques to a wide range of problems; it encourages technical eclecticism
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17. Multimodal Therapy: BASIC ID
The complex personality of human beings can be divided into seven major areas of functioning:
B = behavior
A = affective responses
S = sensations
I = images
C = cognitions
I = interpersonal relationships
D = drugs, biological functions, nutrition, and exercise
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18. Dialectical Behavior Therapy
A promising blend of behavioral and psychoanalytic techniques for treating borderline personality disorders and other issues
Includes both acceptance-oriented and change-oriented strategies
Skills are taught in four modules: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance
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19. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Assists people in learning to live more fully in the present
The skills taught in MBSR include sitting meditation and mindful yoga, aimed at cultivating mindfulness
Didactic instruction is minimized and experiential learning and self-discovery are emphasized
MBSR is not a form of psychotherapy per se, but it can be an adjunct to therapy
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20. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
An 8-week group treatment program adapted from MBSR that includes components of CBT
Clients learn to respond in skillful and intentional ways to their automatic negative thought patterns
Kindness and self-compassion are essential components of MBCT
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21. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
ACT involves fully accepting present experience and mindfully letting go of obstacles
There is little emphasis on changing the content of a client’s thoughts. Instead, the emphasis is on acceptance (nonjudgmental awareness) of cognitions
The goal of ACT is to allow for increased psychological flexibility
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22. Application to Group Counseling (slide 1 of 2)
Treatments
Rely on empirical support and tend to be brief
Emphasize self-management skills and thought restructuring
Leaders
Use a brief, directive, psychoeducational approach
Conduct behavioral assessments
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23. Application to Group Counseling (slide 2 of 2)
Leaders and members
Create collaborative, precise treatment goals
Devise a specific treatment plan to help each member meet goals
Objectively measure treatment outcome
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24. Strengths from a Diversity Perspective
Behavior therapy may appeal to culturally diverse clients for many reasons (e.g., it emphasizes objectivity, tasks, cognition, behavior, action, coping, problem-solving, etc.)
Behavior therapy focuses on environmental, social, and political conditions that contribute to a client’s problems
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25. Limitations from a Diversity Perspective
Some counselors may use a variety of techniques in narrowly treating specific behavioral problems
Therapists who do not assess the interpersonal and cultural dimensions of the client’s problem may not adequately prepare him/her for the consequences of newly acquired social skills
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26. Contributions of Behavior Therapy
The specificity of the behavioral approaches helps clients translate unclear goals into concrete plans of action
A wide variety of specific behavioral techniques have been developed
Behavioral interventions have been subjected to more rigorous evaluation than other approaches
Behavior therapy emphasizes ethical accountability
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27. Limitations of Behavior Therapy (slide 1 of 2)
Heavy focus on behavioral change may detract from client’s experience of emotions
Some counselors believe the therapist’s role as a teacher deemphasizes the important relational factors in the client-therapist relationship
Behavior therapy does not place emphasis on insight
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28. Limitations of Behavior Therapy (slide 2 of 2)
Behavior therapy tends to focus on symptoms rather than underlying causes of maladaptive behaviors
There is potential for the therapist to manipulate the client using this approach
Some clients may find the directive approach imposing or too mechanistic
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