What Is Behavior Therapy, And How Does It Work?

No matter why you may need it, therapy is personal and what works for one person many not work for another. You may need to find a therapist first, figure out what's going on, then decide on a treatment plan. Your needs will help you to decide which type of therapy you want to try, and it may even take some trial and error to figure out what's going to work best.

On type of therapy to consider is behavior therapy. Behavior therapy is a great way to treat many different mental health concerns, though it may not work for everyone. Keep reading to learn more about behavior therapy and how it works. Once you know more about this valuable type of therapy, you can decide if it's one that might work for you.

What is behavior therapy?

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Behavior therapy is a broad category of therapy that allows you a range of different options, but, in general, behavior therapy is designed to target self-destructive and unhealthy behaviors and attempt to change them. Through this therapeutic process, you’ll be able to understand better how your habits and behaviors occurred in the first place, as behavior therapy works under the belief that behavior is learned and, therefore, can be unlearned. If you have unhealthy behaviors, you can learn new ways to change your habits and behaviors to live a healthier life.

Generally, this type of therapy focuses on current problems and behaviors and looks at ways that you can healthily change them. It’s designed for those who are struggling with problems such as depression, panic disorder, anger, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), substance abuse, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but may also be successful with other forms of mental health disorders and problems. Even more importantly, it can be used with children and adults alike with similar levels of success.

Many child therapists will employ behavior therapy for children with autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or behavior issues causing them to act out at school or at home. The techniques practiced in therapy can be duplicated at home to enhance and reinforce treatment.

Understanding behavioral therapy

Behavioral therapy is not just one type of treatment. Here are descriptions of a few common behavioral therapy processes.

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Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavior therapy, also known as CBT, is a combination of behavior counseling and cognitive therapy. That means it looks at the thoughts and beliefs that you have and considers how those thoughts and beliefs cause you to act or feel a certain way. Next it looks at the problems you’re facing and helps you change your behavioral patterns, as well as your thought patterns, into a more positive outlook. This way you’re able to set new long-term goals and create a healthier outcome for yourself. It’s all about considering behavior and thought together and turning negatives into positives.

System desensitization therapy

This type of therapy is similar to classical conditioning. System desensitization therapy works by re-conditioning the responses of the body and the individual, which can be especially helpful with phobias, for example. Teaching someone to have a different reaction to something and to overcome negative reactions that they are currently facing is one way to overcome some of your current problems. Phobias are especially susceptible to this type of therapy—such as getting over a fear of flying—but there are other areas where it may be possible to improve and to see progress through increased interaction and practice.

Aversion therapy

With aversion therapy, you’re completing something like the inverse of what we just discussed. For those who experience addictions, this type of therapy attempts to introduce a negative stimulus or thought process to an activity that you seek to avoid. For example, an addiction counselor might teach you to associate drinking or doing drugs with something that you do not like or something that is unpleasant for you. By doing so, the addictive or unwanted behavior is eventually avoided through that negative association.

Behavioral therapy: Does it work?

Research shows that behavioral therapy is effective—especially for disorders such as anxiety, eating disorders, anger control, depression, substance abuse, and general stress—with an approximate 75% success rate. If you’re too busy for in-person therapy, you can consider online behavioral therapy. It may be just what you’re looking for to help you overcome the mental health disorders that you may be experiencing.

Online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy. It has the benefits of convenience, comfort, and affordability on its side. You can generally have sessions at a time that fits your schedule, you can have sessions from home, and it's often more cost-effective than in-person therapy. Online CBT, in particular, has proven to be effective for many patients.

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Find behavioral therapy options online

It can be tricky to know exactly what to do if you have a mental health disorder. The first step may be talking to your primary care physician about the symptoms you may be experiencing and seeing what they think may be going on. They may refer you to a psychiatrist or a psychologist for further assessment.

Once you have a diagnosis, you can research mental health treatments to find out more about the different ways you can receive help. If behavior therapy could be good for your condition, you can learn more about the different types of behavior therapy that have worked for other people with the same diagnosis. Armed with information, you can find a therapist who can help you manage your situation.

BetterHelp is a completely online system that allows you to reach out to professionals who are located throughout the country. These professionals can contact you whenever you want, at any time that you need them. You can set up an appointment quickly, and you’ll also be able to set it up for any time that you would feel most comfortable. At that point, you just need to get online, and you’ll be able to join the appointment. This even works if you have a joint appointment with someone else (such as a couples therapy or family therapy session) and you are not located in the same place.

Takeaway

If you think behavior therapy might be right for you, try connecting with a therapist who has studied this form of therapy. You will need to put in the work to overcome any problems you may be having, but with support, you can change your behavior and live a happier, more healthy life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the techniques of behavior therapy?

Some techniques of behavior therapy include:

Aversion therapy: Pairing an unwanted behavior with an aversive stimulus to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of the unwanted behavior.
Flooding: The process of exposing people to fear-invoking objects or situations intensely or rapidly to treat phobias.
Systematic desensitization: The client is tasked with making a list of fears and then must learn to relax while concentrating on these fears, starting with the least fear-inducing item on the list and working their way to the most fear-inducing. This is used to help people confront their fears while maintaining a relaxed state, with the supervision of a therapist. It is a technique used to treat phobias and anxiety disorders.

Who needs behavioral therapy?

Children who have been experiencing behavioral problems for six months or more or adults coping with alcohol use disorder, an eating disorder, or other behavioral problem might benefit from behavioral therapies. Drug counseling for substance abuse disorder also uses behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can additionally help those suffering from anxiety and depression, along with many other mental health disorders.

How can I do behavior therapy at home with my child?

Parents can practice behavior therapy at home with their children by using operant conditioning—though they may also want to talk to a therapist trained in child behavior therapy techniques and ask them what would be best for your child. Some types of operant conditioning you can try include:

Extinction: Figuring out what is reinforcing the unwanted behaviors and eliminating those reinforcing actions. (This does not mean ignoring behavior, but rather finding ways to not perpetuate it.)
Modeling: Having a child observe and model the behavior of other children in order to learn acceptable behaviors and new skills.
Token Economies: This strategy relies on reinforcement to modify behavior. Children can be allowed to earn tokens for good behavior that can be exchanged for special privileges or a desired item.

What are behavioral techniques?

Behavioral techniques are behavioral therapies that use reinforcement, punishment, shaping, modeling, and other related techniques to alter behavior. They usually produce quick results and are commonly used by therapists trained in behavior therapy.