BEHAVIOR THERAPY

Interventions focus on reinforcing or promoting desirable behaviors or altering undesirable ones. GOAL: a. Aims to eliminate certain clinical symptoms exhibited by clients with a history of alcohol dependence, phobias, or eating disorders, temper tantrums and bedwetting in children

a. Used to develop desirable behavior

GENERAL PRINCIPLES AS IDENTIFIED BY ROWE:

Faulty learning can result in psychiatric disorders

Behavior is modified through the application of principles of learning

Maldaptive behavior is considered to be deficient or excessive, thus behavior therapy seeks to promote appropriate behavior, decrease or eliminate the frequency, duration, or place of occurrence of inappropriate behavior

Once social environment is a source of stimuli that support symptoms, therefore it can support changes in behavior through appropriate treatment measures

BEHAVIOR THERAPY TECHNIQUES

Behavior modification Systemic desensitization Aversion therapy Cognitive behavior therapy Assertiveness training Implosive therapy Limit setting

BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION
Also known as behavior shaping Is a specific, systematized behavior therapy technique that can be applied to individuals, groups, systems Used for various problematic behaviors such as dysfunctional eating habits and addictions Often used in the care of children and adolescents

3 MODELS OF LEARNING THEORY

PAVLOVS THEORY OF CONDITIONING - states that a stimulus elicits a response (ex: a red ripe apple stimulates ones salivary glands)
SKINNERS THEORY OF OPERANT CONDITIONING states that the

results of a persons behavior determine whether the behavior will recur in the future; mainly concerned with reinforcement.

Increasing and strengthening:

POSTIVE REINFORCEMENT occurs when a behavior is followed by a response or event that the individual finds rewarding to such extent that it will increase the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.
Ex: A student praised for hard work is likely to work harder. NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT this is removing of upleasant occurrence or stimulus, following a response. Ex: Waking up early to avoid traffic rush.

 Decreasing or weakening behavior:

PUNISHMENT means removal of something the individual finds pleasant, or presentation of something the individual finds unpleasant Ex: A motorist is stopped by the traffic police for over speeding and given a fine.
This is punishment by presenting an unpleasant stimulus.

EXTINCTION this is to ensure that the undesired behavior is not rewarded; no reinforcement is given or taken away; the behavior is totally ignored. Ex: Putting money into a fruit machine in the hopes of winning. If you continue to put money in but had no success whatsoever, you will soon stop.

 THERAPEUTIC LIFESTYLE CHANGE COUNSELING (TLC)

An important modification tool which is similar to the Stages of Change Model. It utilizes motivational behavioral techniques to implement necessary lifestyle changes of clients with chronic conditions or illnesses Indicated as secondary prevention and management for many medical and psychiatric diagnoses such as substance abuse, nicotine abuse, and obesity resulting from overeating or sedentary lifetsyle Clients participate in one or more monthly sessions of high-intensity behavioral counseling for at least 3 months

Often recommended before prescribed

pharmacological intervention is