The Importance Of Behavioral Therapy

Behavior theory is focused on changing behavior by decreasing maladaptive behaviors and increasing adaptive behaviors (Wedding, Corsini, 2014). Behavior therapy includes many different types of treatments for different disorders. The behavior therapy is used in understanding and changing behavior in clients’. Behavior therapy also focuses on the clients being able to work with their own behavior that they become successful on their own in understanding their problems (Wedding, 2014). The basic components of behavior theory are classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical and operant conditioning were developed by Ivan Pavlov. Classical conditioning is where one stimulus referred to as a conditioned stimulus signals the second stimulus an unconditioned stimulus (Wedding, 2014). An unconditioned stimulus usually cause an unconditioned response (Wedding, 2014). Extinction is also an important component associated with classical conditioning. Extinction is where you present the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus, this will at some point stop the unconditioned response …show more content…
I know that in behavior therapy which I have been a part of I have already had a therapeutic relationship developed with my counselor, someone I could trust and talk to about my problems. Our book discusses that some people believe that behavior therapy will sometimes not focus the importance of a therapeutic relationship with their client (Wedding, 2014). For counseling to be effective there needs be a strong trusting therapeutic relationship to make progress with your client. Some people might not try behavior therapy without forming a relationship with a counselor first. Some clients’ might have problems trusting people which could hinder moving forward to where they can make progress with their behavior such as OCD