Behaviour Therapy And Counselling: An Overview

The Behaviour Approach in Relation to Counselling

Discuss About The Key Principles Along With Goals In Relation To The Behavioural Approach.

The behaviour approach in relation to counselling focuses on the fact that environment plays a key role in determining the behaviour of an individual. The manner in which an individual responds is owing to the fact that such kind of behaviour has been reinforced. The behaviourists believe in the fact that behaviour can be learned and hence it can also be unlearned (Hetrick et al., 2015) This theory focuses on the behaviour pertaining to the individual and it can help the individual in modifying the unwanted behaviours.

With the help of the behavioural approach, the clients are taught skills with the help of which they can effectively manage their life. They key principles in relation to this approach is that the clients should be taught skills with the help of which they would be able to relax in the situations that can give rise to an anxiety response. Another approach in relation to this method is that the client can be asked to copy other people who exhibits traits of desirable behaviour. Social influence is the condition that can help in programming the environment and it can also help in modifying that of the behaviour of another individual. The behaviour theory involves the two issues: standard in relation to deviancy along with that of social sanctioning. Ethical controversy will be rare within a setting in which there is general agreement in relation to a specific value system. Assessment can play an important role in relation to the behaviour approaches and the main goal is not about diagnosing the psychic conflict but identification of the problem behaviour (Richards et al., 2016) The behavioural approach to treatment can prove to be more diverse than what has been already been recognized. Behavioural model emphasizes on the fact that there is no discontinuity between that of appropriate and that of inappropriate behaviour. Behaviour therapy believes in the fact that changes in terms of behaviour can be brought about with the help of successful interaction between behaviour and that of the environment (Andrews & Williams, 2015)

The key principle in relation to behaviour based counselling is that the conceptualization in relation to the individual problem is take at that of face value. The people around the individual has to play a constant role in shaping the behaviour of the individual. Behaviour therapy does not make use of one particular method but it provides different kinds of techniques that can be made use of to treat the psychological problem of the person. Behavioural assessment helps in finding out the environmental along with the self-imposed variables (Dieser, Christenson & Davis-Gage, 2015).  The goal in relation to behaviour counselling is that of maintaining of that of maladaptive behaviour. The person variables emerge from that of the social learning history of the person and it shows that environment has a bearing on that of the behaviour of an individual. The key principle in relation to behavioural therapy is to find out the factor that has given rise to the maladaptive behaviour of the individual (Thompson, 2015).

Key Principles of the Behavioural Approach

The counsellor in the behaviour therapy assists the client in understanding the distorted thinking pattern of the individual that can help them in changing their thought process. The role of the therapist would be pertaining to changing the thought process that gives rise to wrong actions on the part of the individual. The role of the therapist is to listen and support the client and the behaviour therapists searches for the strengths of the client. Goals take up the central position in relation to behavioural therapy. The counsellor teaches the clients important skills in relation to self-management. The counsellor deliveries important lessons pertaining to the fact that can help the client in controlling the negative emotions. The modern behaviour therapy lays emphasis on scientific view in relation to that of the human behaviour (Luke, 2017). The counsellor understands that the human beings are the products of that of socio-cultural conditioning and the social circumstances being changed can play a pivotal role in changing the deviant behaviour of the individual. The counsellor will provide freedom to the individual thus relieving him of the stress factors that dominate the life of an individual. The therapist will assess the covert behaviour of that of the individual, identify the problem and then evaluate the changes. The role of the therapist is hence active along with being directive. They act as the consultants as well as that of the problem solver. It is the function of the therapist to pay due attention to the clues that have been presented by the client. The therapist can act as a role model for that of the client that can help the client to deal with the negative consequences of his life.

The counsellor in this kind of therapy acts as the advisor along with that of the facilitator. The therapist plays a crucial role in supervising the people who are involved in the life of the client. The role of the counsellor is to get rid of the maladaptive behaviours and help them in behaviour along the proper lines (Crawford & Studer, 2015). The role of the counsellor will hence revolve around helping the people so that they can continue to lead productive lives. They help the clients in changing the self-defeating activities pertaining to their behaviour. The therapist understands well that the emotions are intertwined with that of the thoughts and it is his duty to understand why such emotions have arisen in the client and act accordingly. Role in relation to the counsellor is to help the client in exploring aspects of life along with that of feelings (Wong, 2015). The family members tend to get emotionally involves but the behaviour therapist will in a detached manner offer help to that of the client. The behavioural counsellor will carry out the identification of the goals, implement the strategies and the assess the progress in relation to the patient. The counsellor will not achieve insight into that of the behaviour but focus on the arena of changing of the behaviour. The role of the counsellor is to understand the feelings of the client and then devising ways that can help in the elimination of that of the problem (Vernon, 2016).

Techniques Used in Behaviour Therapy

Joel is a man aged 36 who is dissatisfied with his life. His mother died when he was very young and he grew up along with his father. His father was a good person but he had to work very hard so that he would be able to support the son. His father was unable to bear the shock of that of the death of his mother and hence struggled with that of alcohol issues. Joel acted in a rebellious manner in his teenage years and he worked hard that enabled him to enter the university. Joe wanted to get out of the small town and wanted to escape from that of his father. He emerged to be successful in the professional field and he got married. They were blessed with a young son and at the initial stage of his career he enjoyed the money and the challenge in relation to his job. He had missed important things in his life but he gave Anne all the things that he had missed. Joel feels unhappy inspite of the positive factors in his life. Constant demands in relation to parenthood is acting as a burden on him. He has to spend more time at the home and he feels that he is not being able to give the proper amount of time to his profession. He is worried on account of the situation and he feels that he will fail to be a good father along with that of the husband.

The behaviour therapy applied by the counsellor will help him in getting rid of the problems that are in his life. There was a point of time when his father needed Joel but he wanted to come away from him. His father went through a hard time that caused him to take recourse to alcohol. The guilt is weighing down on Joel that at one point of time he had deserted his father. The behaviour approach will try to understand the cause of his behaviour and suggest ways that can help in reforming his behaviour pattern. The guilt is weighing down on him that is harming the relationship between Joel and that of his wife Anna. The behaviour therapy will be able to analyse the reason for his emotion as well as his behaviour (Ellis, 2014).  The emotion along with the behaviour of an individual are inter-linked and the negative thoughts can give rise to distress. The behaviour therapy will prove to be suitable for Joel as it will help him in getting rid of the insecurities and help him in staying mentally healthy. Joel thinks that he deserted his father and the interpretations in relation to certain situations in his life should be reassessed by the counsellor that can help in keeping him at a balanced state. He feels that he cannot control the aspects of his life that makes him frustrated. The behavioural approach believes in the fact that abnormality arises on account of faulty cognitions in relation to the world (Dryden, 2014).  The faulty thinking arises on account of the fact that the information has been processed in the inaccurate manner. The behaviour approach can help in curing Joel of the wrong notions and reinforce positive forces in his life.

The Role of a Therapist in Behaviour Therapy

Desensitization is the technique that can be used by the counsellor in order to relieve the mental agony of Joel. Relaxation training like that of meditation can help Joel in coping with the turmoil prevailing in his life. The counsellor can ask Joel to relax the different parts of the body so that the patient can reach a state of serenity. This technique will help Joel in controlling the fear so that it does not increase to any kind of intolerable level. The relaxation training provided by that of the behaviourist therapist will help Joel in understanding the real state of the situation (Hayes, 2016) Joel would be able to understand that support provided to the family would help them in leading a healthy life. For some reason, Joel is drawing himself away from that of the family. He feels insecure as he believes that he is neglecting his family on account of his profession.

Constant demand in relation to parenthood is acting as a heavy burden in his life and he should be provided with relaxation by the counsellor. He feels that he has been unable to give proper attention to the family. The counsellor should relax him by making him understand that he is not proving to be insufficient as a parent and as a husband (Segal, Williams & Teasdale, 2018) The cognitive-behaviour therapy can help in improving the mental condition of Joel. The mood disorder of Joel can be cured by the help of fostering effective relationship with the other members of the house (Baer, 2015). The counsellor would ask Joel to build a strong relationship with that of the wife and the son that can help him in getting rid of the worries that surround his life. Joel would initially feel reluctant to bong with the family however with the passage of time he would gradually be able to get over his problems and mix freely with that of the family. The counsellor will ask Joel to involve in story-reading session with his son that can help him in getting rid of the behaviour problems that are in his life. He will be able to understand the pleasurable feelings that arises when one is associated with that of the family and this will help him in getting over the behavioural problems.

References:

Andrews, G., & Williams, A. D. (2015). Up-scaling clinician assisted internet cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) for depression: a model for dissemination into primary care. Clinical Psychology Review, 41, 40-48.

Baer, R. A. (Ed.). (2015). Mindfulness-based treatment approaches: Clinician’s guide to evidence base and applications. Elsevier.

Crawford, C., & Studer, J. R. (2015). Applying Counseling Theories During the Clinical Experiences. A Guide to Practicum and Internship for School Counselors-in-Training, 38.

Dieser, R. B., Christenson, J., & Davis-Gage, D. (2015). Integrating flow theory and the serious leisure perspective into mental health counseling. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 28(1), 97-111.

Dryden, W. (2014). Rational emotive behaviour therapy: Distinctive features. Routledge.

Ellis, A. (2014, May). The Revised ABCs of Rational-Emotive: Therapy (RET). In The evolution of psychotherapy: The second conference (pp. 97-117). Routledge.

Hayes, S. C. (2016). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Relational Frame Theory, and the Third Wave of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies–Republished Article. Behavior therapy, 47(6), 869-885.

Hetrick, S., Parker, A., Bailey, A., Cahill, S., Rice, S., Garvin, T., … & Davey, C. (2015). Cognitive-behavioural therapy for depression in young people: A modular treatment manual.

Luke, C. (2017). Learner-Centered Counseling Theory: An Innovative Perspective. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 12(3), 305-319.

Richards, D. A., Ekers, D., McMillan, D., Taylor, R. S., Byford, S., Warren, F. C., … & O’Mahen, H. (2016). Cost and Outcome of Behavioural Activation versus Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Depression (COBRA): a randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial. The Lancet, 388(10047), 871-880.

Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., & Teasdale, J. D. (2018). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression. Guilford Publications.

Thompson, R. A. (2015). Counseling techniques: Improving relationships with others, ourselves, our families, and our environment. Routledge.

Vernon, A. (2016). Rational emotive behavior therapy. ACA Counseling and Psychotherapy: Theories and Interventions, 283-310.

Wong, Y. J. (2015). The psychology of encouragement: Theory, research, and applications. The Counseling Psychologist, 43(2), 178-216.