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Behavior therapy
Behavior therapy
Lindsey Rasmussen
Counseling Theories & Practice
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Behavior therapy
I am somewhat surprised by how positive I feel about behavior therapy. If I had
been asked what my thoughts were about this particular theoretical orientation a year or
more ago, I would have given a very different response. This is because I used to see
behavioral therapy as being rather cold and clinical, especially compared to my thenpreferred theoretical orientation of psychoanalysis. However, this semester has given
me the opportunity to explore and reflect upon different approaches and in doing so, I
have learned that many of my initial thoughts and assumptions have been off-base,
misinformed, and oftentimes based on nothing more than my personal preference. This
being said, I have made a conscious effort to be more logical and fact-based in my
assessment of counseling theories and in doing so, to my surprise, have found a great
respect and appreciation for behavior therapy. Furthermore, I see myself incorporating
aspects of behavior therapy into my professional practice someday.
Overall, I see many strengths in taking a behavioral approach to counseling – in
emphasizing current behavior, identifying precise goals of treatment, employing a
variety of therapeutic strategies and techniques which are specific to treatment goals
and the client, and in evaluating the therapeutic outcome. This is a very efficient and
evidence-based approach to helping someone deal with his/her problems and, like the
text states, fits in well with a managed-care system. Furthermore, I see behavior
therapy as having particular relevance to substance use disorders in that it ‘forces’
addicts and alcoholics to focus on their present behavior, take real action, and facilitate
change that can actually be measured. I think the focus on present behavior is
especially important for AODA clients because oftentimes their pasts are dominated by
feelings of guilt and shame, difficult feelings to begin with, but made even more so
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Behavior therapy
because none of us has the power to change what we have done in the past. I think
encouraging clients to focus on what they can change, and what they do have control
over, can facilitate and increase some very powerful and motivating emotions like hope,
strength, and efficacy, as well as return something that addiction steals – a sense of
power and control over one’s own life.
In general, I feel very optimistic about behavior therapy, but on the other hand,
I’m not so naïve as to think that it doesn’t have some shortcomings. In my opinion,
behavior therapy does not address some of the more complex existential problems,
conflicts, or questions that some of us have. Because the truth is, not every client will
present with one specific problem behavior that they wish to change. There are plenty of
people in this world that have much broader problems and secondly, problems that may
benefit from being placed in historical context and from being explored from that
perspective. So another limitation, in my opinion (and which is paradoxical to why I think
behavior therapy can be so effective for some people) is its lack of emphasis on the
past or ‘historical antecedents’. Lastly, because I strongly value the therapeutic
relationship and believe it’s a powerful force in helping someone change, I also disagree
with some of the approaches to behavior therapy, namely those that minimize the
importance of the client-counselor relationship. For these reason and others, I believe
that perhaps a more contemporary form of behavior therapy would be a more
appropriate ‘fit’ for me.
Overall, I learned quite a bit about myself while learning about behavior therapy
as it is, and not what I assumed it to be. Instead of being this cold and clinical approach
I thought it to be, it’s perhaps the most personal because of its attempts to be so
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Behavior therapy
specifically tailored to the client, the client’s behavior(s), and the client’s goals.
Furthermore, the fact that behavior therapy attempts to apply the scientific method in its
continuous evaluation of its concepts and procedures does make it clinical, but this is
not a bad thing! In fact, when our approaches, concepts, procedures, techniques,
strategies, etc. are based upon facts and proven results, it makes our profession more
credible, which hopefully means more clients will ‘trust the process’…because it will
work if they work it!
There is one point that is becoming continuously clearer as we near the end of
the semester, and while it may be cliché, it’s really how I see my developing orientation
– the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. What I mean by this, is that an eclectic
approach, comprised of the ‘best’ aspects of each theory, chosen specifically based
upon the needs of a specific client – is much stronger (and more effective) than any one
therapeutic approach used on its own. Therefore, I should not be limiting myself to just
one approach, set of techniques, theoretical foundation, etc. especially if it’s on the
basis of personal preference. Because had I not opened my mind to behavior therapy,
but instead clung to my preconceived notions formed a long time ago, and based on
very little information, I would have closed myself off to a whole range of therapeutic
possibilities. And the worse thing? It would have been a disservice to my future clients
who deserve every possible tool I can give them.
In conclusion, I don’t have any questions about behavior therapy at this time. I
would, however, like to continue exploring this therapeutic approach on my own, to
learn more about it and what I can do to increase my ‘toolbox’. Also, as I’ve stated time
and time again this semester, I would like the opportunity to discuss this therapy and
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Behavior therapy
others with my peers, particularly those who are as passionate and motivated as I am. I
absolutely love hearing other peoples’ opinions and perspectives, especially when they
are different from my own. I am also looking forward to the lab for this lesson plan
because I believe we will have the opportunity to watch a counseling session where
they therapist utilizes behavior therapy. It will definitely be interesting and a great
learning experience. Lastly, I will continue to do my best to maintain an open mind as
we learn about the last few theoretical orientations, keeping in mind that if something
doesn’t strike a chord with me, it doesn’t mean it won’t be useful for someone else.