Understanding Behavioral Therapy: Types, Techniques, and Effectiveness

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or struggling with a lingering low mood, you’re not alone. The good news is that seeking help from a mental health professional can be the first step toward feeling better. In this article, we’ll dive into behavioral therapy—its different types, techniques, and effectiveness—so you can better understand how it might be the right approach for your mental health journey.

What Is Behavioral Therapy?

Unlike therapies that focus on emotions and mood, which are seen as subjective, behavioral psychology holds that problematic behaviors are learned and can be replaced by healthier alternatives. Essentially, behavioral therapy is action-oriented, rather than insight-based, distinguishing it from psychoanalytic therapy. The idea is that behavior and emotions are interconnected: by replacing negative behaviors with positive ones, your mood can improve. This indirect approach works effectively for many people.

Conditions Treated by Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapy can address a broad range of mental health conditions and emotional difficulties. Some of the conditions it treats include:

• Bipolar disorder
• Alcohol and substance use disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• ADHD (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
• Depression
• PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Eating disorders
• Panic disorder
• Phobias
• OCD (Obsessive-compulsive disorder)

Types of Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) combines cognitive and behavioral techniques to address various psychological issues. Cognitive therapy focuses on identifying thought patterns, while behavioral therapy addresses action-oriented patterns. Together, CBT explores how thoughts, beliefs, actions, and moods influence each other.

CBT evolved from traditional behavioral therapy, but places more emphasis on cognition, positing that negative thinking can lead to harmful behaviors and emotions, and vice versa. The goal of CBT is to break this cycle by helping individuals identify and change dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors.

There are also specialized versions of CBT for specific issues, such as CBT-I for insomnia and sleep anxiety.

CBT is widely recognized as an effective treatment.

Cognitive-Behavioral Play Therapy (CBPT)

Cognitive-behavioral play therapy (CBPT) is a common approach for treating mental health issues in children. It uses creative methods such as arts and crafts, dolls, puppets, and role-playing to engage children in addressing their concerns and finding solutions.

A form of cognitive therapy, CBPT combines the verbal strategies of cognitive therapy with the interactive and playful elements of traditional play therapy. It allows children to explore difficult thoughts and experiences in a more accessible way.

Some benefits of CBPT include:

• Taking responsibility for behaviors
• Developing coping skills and problem-solving abilities
• Improving self-respect and empathy
• Alleviating anxiety
• Strengthening social and family relationships

According to Play Therapy International, up to 71% of children referred for play therapy show positive changes.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) integrates principles from behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy with a focus on action.

ACT encourages individuals to accept negative thoughts and emotions, recognizing that they may be appropriate responses to certain situations. Instead of trying to control painful emotions, ACT promotes mindfulness techniques, focusing on personal values, and committing to behavior changes aligned with those values.

ACT involves six main components:

1. Being present: Learning to focus on the present moment and shift attention away from internal thoughts and feelings.
2. Self as context: Understanding yourself as a stable observer of thoughts and emotions, rather than being defined by them.
3. Values: Identifying life areas that matter most to you and motivate action.
4. Acceptance: Allowing thoughts and emotions to arise without trying to change or suppress them.
5. Commitment: Making a commitment to change behavior to align with personal values.
6. Cognitive defusion: Separating yourself from your inner thoughts and seeing them as just natural occurrences.

Therapists help clients apply these concepts to their lives to become more aware of behaviors and determine whether they are helpful or harmful.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a modified form of CBT designed to help people live in the present, develop healthy coping strategies, regulate emotions, and improve relationships.

Originally developed to treat suicidal behaviors in women with borderline personality disorder, DBT has proven effective for treating a variety of conditions, including eating disorders and substance use disorders.

DBT includes four key strategies:

• Core mindfulness
• Interpersonal effectiveness (enhancing relationships)
• Emotional regulation
• Distress tolerance

People undergoing DBT learn skills to help them lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Behavioral Therapy Techniques

Behavioral therapy relies on two core learning theories: classical conditioning and operant conditioning. The techniques used will depend on the condition being treated and the severity of the symptoms.

Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning involves creating a link between a neutral stimulus and a response. For example, Pavlov’s famous experiment with dogs demonstrated how a bell (neutral stimulus) could trigger salivation (natural reflex) when paired with food.

Some classical conditioning techniques include:

• Systematic desensitization: Reducing sensitivity to triggers using relaxation techniques.
• Aversion therapy: Using negative reinforcement (e.g., applying a bitter substance to nails) to discourage undesirable behaviors.

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning involves using reinforcement and punishment to modify behavior. Positive outcomes encourage repetition, while negative outcomes discourage behaviors.

Operant conditioning techniques include:

• Contingency management: A contract between client and therapist that outlines behavior goals and rewards.
• Extinction: Stopping reinforcement of certain behaviors.
• Behavior modeling: Learning through observing others.
• Token economies: Rewarding positive behaviors with tokens that can be exchanged for rewards.

Effectiveness of Behavioral Therapy

Approximately 75% of people find psychotherapy helpful, but behavioral therapy may not be suitable for everyone. Its success depends on factors like the therapy type, therapist skill, and the specific condition being treated.

Research shows that CBT is effective for many conditions.

Call COPE Today

Ready to take control of your mental health? Contact COPE Psychological Center today to schedule a consultation and explore how behavioral therapy can support your journey to emotional well-being.