Behavior Therapy

There is no one in this world who doesn't have particular habits which are identified with him/her. All of us have something which we repeatedly keep doing or practicing, and it is very difficult for us to get rid of it. In psychology, these habits are our personalities and behavior which define us. Some people have an affinity towards cleanliness, some have specific gestures which they are habituated to, some like to be organized, some are short tempered, while some are perfectionists. Whatever, these habits, they are a part of our behavior. But when these habits become obsessions, they can be risky for our own health and are termed as behavioral disorders. Sometimes they are innate but most of the time these disorders are developed or induced, due to certain situations thus transforming into addictions. This is where behavior therapy comes into picture. What is behavior therapy? Read on, to find out!

Behavior Therapy for Disorders

Some of the most common behavioral disorders are Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and a few addictions like drinking, smoking, drugs, etc. These disorders also have many sub categories, in which the various types of behavioral abnormalities seen in people are classified. As mentioned above, as humans all of us have some or the other behavioral problems, but when they become obsessive addictions which we can't control, one is advised treatment.

This treatment is known as behavior therapy, where the unfavorable behavior patterns, observed in patients, are modified into healthy habits with a few psychological techniques and activities. These techniques can be used on adults as well as children with various behavioral disorders and mental illnesses like aggressive behavior, eating disorders, anger management, anxiety disorders and phobias. So, if you want to know what are these effective techniques in doing the same, scroll down.

Behavior Therapy Techniques
There are various types of techniques used in behavior therapy, and each of them have a different approach of modifying the patient's behavior. One of the most effective techniques is the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focuses on changing the negative patterns of thinking, and this technique can modify disorders like personality disorders, social phobia, agoraphobia, ADHD, etc. These problems are also observed in kids and thus, you can use this as behavior therapy for children. A few other techniques for this therapy are mentioned below, take a look.

Behavioral Activation: By using this technique for depression, the patient is allowed to enjoy his favorite activities, which make him happy and cheerful. This technique makes the patient engage himself in rewarding acts and, in turn, pulls him out of depression. Children with autism are also treated with behavior therapy, since they need to be cared for and respected. Thus, behavior therapy and autism surely go hand in hand.

Exposure Therapy: During this therapy the patient is not exposed to any addictions, habits or activities which cause stress and ill health. He is made to experience complete liberation with the help of relaxation methods, environment modification and assertive training, so that he learns to overcome his disorder and change his approach. This is also one of the effective cognitive therapy techniques, used in this treatment.

Contingency Management: In this therapy, the good actions done by the patient are encouraged and the wrong actions are ignored. Since these patients are very vulnerable to any negative reactions, it is always advised that their behavior should not be taken as offensive, but support them through it. This is a very effective technique in behavior therapy for ADHD, as these patients are already suffering from ignorance.

Some other techniques used, in behavior modification, to modify and change negative behavioral aspect of a patient can be as follows;

• Art Therapy
• Existential Therapy
• Gestalt Therapy
• Humanistic Therapy
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy
• Family/Marital Therapy
• Play Therapy
• Psycho-analytic Therapy
• Psycho-dynamic Therapy

With this information about behavior therapy and its techniques, I am sure you must have found out that being a little considerate towards such patients is the best way to help them. Anyone could face a behavioral disorder and stay oblivious to the fact forever, but if you are diagnosed, wouldn't you want to be treated with love and affection?