What Is A Behavioral Therapist, And What Do They Do?
Our actions can be complicated. Behavioral therapists are licensed therapists who work with clients to identify and address unproductive or harmful behaviors. Behavioral therapists may use a variety of methods, including social skills training, behavior modification, and operant conditioning. How does behavioral therapy work? The goal of behavioral therapy is to create a long-lasting change in behavior.
What is behavioral therapy?
Behavioral therapy (BT) is a common type of therapy. It’s characterized as a psychotherapy known as behavior modification therapy, which focuses on identifying and changing behaviors that can be harmful. Practitioners of behavioral therapy typically have advanced degrees in psychology, social work, psychiatry, or counseling and must maintain up-to-date licensure to work with clients. Many behavioral therapists are certified to specialize in niche areas of behavioral therapy and work with specific disorders or behavioral challenges.
For example, behavioral therapists working with children with autism spectrum disorder may use a type of BT called applied behavior analysis to teach certain activities, such as tooth brushing and greeting strangers. Other forms of BT include cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy.
Types of behavioral therapy
Here are some common types of therapy practiced by behavioral therapists:
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often considered the “gold standard of psychotherapy”, because it is thoroughly researched, effective for a wide variety of people, and nuanced in its approach to the human psyche. This type of therapy combines behavioral therapy techniques with cognitive therapy.
While behavioral therapy focuses on using external environments to drive positive behavioral changes, cognitive therapy focuses on addressing the internal self (thoughts and emotions) to create positive changes in thought patterns. Cognitive-behavioral therapy combines elements of both behavioral and cognitive therapy to focus on how thought patterns influence emotion and behavior.
CBT is effective and frequently used to address symptoms of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hypersensitivity disorder, general stress, antisocial behaviors, chronic fatigue, smoking problems, eating disorders, anger management problems, and substance use disorders.
Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning is a type of learning that triggers automated behaviors in response to specific stimuli. You may have learned about Ivan Pavlov’s famous dog experiment in which he found that ringing a bell before feeding dogs could trigger salivation in the expectation of eating. Eventually, this behavior (salivation) was triggered in response to a ringing bell (the conditioned stimulus) even if food was not present.
Classical conditioning techniques are sometimes used by behavioral therapists to address a wide range of fears and avoidant behaviors.
Systematic desensitization
Systematic desensitization is a form of behavioral therapy that utilizes the principles of classical conditioning to focus on fears and phobias. It can be effective at addressing many fears, including social anxiety, agoraphobia, posttraumatic stress, arachnophobia, and a fear of heights. The format of systematic desensitization is to identify the fears that might result in avoidant behaviors and work slowly toward overcoming them.
Someone with social anxiety may view giving a presentation as a “level-10 scary” fear. After defining that fear, a behavioral therapist would help the client identify a scale of social anxiety fears. For example, a “level-1 scary” fear may be shaking hands with a stranger. The therapists will then assign homework or work with the client during sessions to progressively face larger and larger fears until they can comfortably overcome the “level-10 scary” fear.
Throughout the process, the therapist works to ensure that the client is relaxed, so when triggering stimuli (such as shaking someone’s hand) are encountered, the lack of fear acts to counter-condition the phobia. Over time, the client will not anticipate negative experiences from encountering their fear or phobia.
Aversion therapy
Aversion therapy is another type of behavioral therapy that uses the concepts of classical conditioning. Unlike systematic desensitization, which aims to turn a negative response (avoidance and fear) into a positive response, aversion therapy aims to reduce a behavior by changing a positive response to a harmful stimulus (such as alcohol consumption) into a negative response.
An example of aversion therapy is adding a bitter-tasting or nauseating substance to alcohol to make drinking less appealing. However, aversive techniques are shown to have limited effectiveness and are typically used in combination with other therapeutic techniques for this reason.
How can a behavioral therapist help me?
Behavioral therapists can use many types of therapeutic techniques and methods to help a wide range of people. It can be effective at reducing symptoms of mental illnesses (including anxiety disorders, depression, and eating disorders), physical conditions (including chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndrome), and behavioral issues (including smoking, antisocial behaviors, avoidance resulting from phobias, and alcohol use).
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most common and effective forms of behavioral therapy. A review of 106 meta-analyses* published in the Cognitive Therapy and Research journal found that CBT is particularly effective at addressing symptoms of anxiety, somatoform disorders, bulimia, anger control problems, and general stress.
*Mental health research is constantly evolving, so older sources may contain information or theories that have been reevaluated since their original publication date.
A 2017 study found that online CBT is effective in addressing many psychiatric disorders, including depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), adjustment disorder, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, and phobias. In addition to helping reduce symptoms of psychiatric disorders, researchers found that online CBT is often more cost-effective for those seeking therapy compared with in-person CBT.
Online therapy, like BetterHelp, allows you to attend sessions from wherever you want, which can make the prospect of getting help less intimidating. Plus, when you sign up, you’re matched with a therapist whose clinical expertise is a good fit for your needs.
Takeaway
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a sub-type of behavioral therapy that combines cognitive and behavioral therapy to help clients understand the relationship between thoughts, mood, and behavior. CBT is one of the most common types of psychotherapy, and online CBT is an effective alternative to in-person sessions for many people.
How do you explain behavior therapy?
Behavior therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on changing maladaptive behaviors through various techniques. It is based on the principles of behaviorism that suggest behaviors are learned and can be modified through conditioning. Behavior therapy is a versatile approach that can be modified and tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual.
Who uses behavioral therapy?
Behavioral therapy is used by a variety of mental health professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, social workers, and behavioral analysts. It can be used in a range of settings such as individual, group, and family therapy. It can be used to treat a wide variety of mental health disorders, including:
- Depression, anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Eating disorders
- Substance use disorders
Behavior therapy can also be used to help individuals enhance problem-solving abilities, learn coping skills, and improve communication skills.
What is the difference between a behavioral therapist and a therapist?
While behavioral therapy and psychotherapy can both be effective in helping individuals improve their mental health and overall well-being, behavioral therapists and psychotherapists differ in their theoretical approaches and treatment focus.
For example, the goal of behavioral therapy is to help individuals modify their behaviors and improve their mental health. Many behavioral therapists focus more on addressing specific, observable behaviors rather than the inner workings of how the behaviors developed. Behavioral therapists utilize evidence-based techniques such as:
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Systematic desensitization
- Aversion therapy
- Exposure therapy
In contrast, psychotherapists typically delve into past experiences or unconscious processes to understand the individual’s thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and experiences. The aim of psychotherapy is to use this insight to change maladaptive behaviors and boost mental health. Therapeutic methods in psychotherapy tend to take a broader approach to treatment and include:
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Psychoanalysis
- Humanistic psychotherapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Interpersonal therapy
Why be a behavior therapist?
Being a therapist can be rewarding, fulfilling career for individuals who want to help others and promote mental health, regardless of the techniques one specializes in. Therapy can make a positive impact on the lives of others through helping them overcome challenges, change unhealthy behaviors, and establish overall well-being.
However, there are many reasons why individuals may specifically choose to specialize in behavior therapy. For example:
- It takes an evidence-based approach— Behavioral therapists use techniques that are rooted in empirical research and supported by scientific evidence to help individuals change their behaviors and improve mental health.
- It’s practical and goal-oriented— Behavioral therapy is often action-focused and involves setting specific goals, creating a plan for change, and achieving those goals through evidence-based therapeutic techniques.
- It focuses on specific behaviors—Behavioral therapy focuses on identifying and targeting specific problematic or maladaptive behaviors. This can provide a clear, structured approach to therapy that allows for measurable progress and outcomes.
- Its versatile and adaptable—Behavioral therapy can be used to treat a wide range of mental health disorders in patients of all ages and backgrounds. It is typically tailored to meet the unique needs between each individual.
What to expect from a behavioral therapist?
During your initial assessment, your therapist will gather information about your concerns, current behaviors, thoughts, emotions, and therapeutic goals. This will likely involve a one-on-one interview, self-administered questionnaires, and questions about your health history. For children, behavioral therapists typically speak to the parents as well.
During sessions, you and your therapist will work together to establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals to help guide the focus of your treatment and track your progress over time.
Your therapist will help you identify harmful patterns of behavior, what prompts them, and what their consequences are. This might involve “homework” like keeping track of your experiences through journals or logs to better understand them.
Based on these initial processes, the therapist will develop a specialized treatment plan to help you identify and change problematic behaviors. In addition to addressing problematic behaviors, these interventions are often designed to teach new skills and coping strategies such as cognitive restructuring, problem-solving and communication skills, and relaxation techniques.
During the therapeutic process, your therapist will regularly monitor your progress and make treatment adjustments as needed. It’s worth noting that the patient/therapist relationship should be collaborative throughout the process. If you don’t feel that you are making progress in therapy, or you and your therapist aren’t a good match, you have the option to find a new one.
Is a therapist like a psychologist?
While psychologists can be therapists in a clinical setting, some may devote their careers to scientific research, assessment analysis, and other roles within an academic or lab setting. On the other hand, therapists typically work exclusively in a clinical setting providing therapy for clients. Although both professions require advanced degrees, the American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines require therapists and psychologists to complete specific educational and internship programs.
- Requirements for a therapist qualification
A master’s degree in a field associated with psychological development, approaches to psychotherapy, and diagnosing mental conditions. Obtaining a master’s degree typically takes a total of six years of schooling. Therapists must also complete a set number of observation and internship hours practicing under a licensed professional.
Depending on their specialty and the state in which they practice, therapists must complete certain requirements to receive a license to practice. This typically includes a set amount of supervised experience and passing the state’s qualification exam. Specialists like social workers and marriage and family counselors might also need to pass an exam specific to their field of practice
- Requirements for a psychologist
Psychologists must earn a Ph.D. (a doctorate focusing on research) or a Psy.D. (doctorate focusing on methods of practice) to practice. Depending on which program they choose, it takes a psychologist roughly 9-11 years in total to complete a doctorate program. Psychologists typically complete 1,500 hours of supervised experience while in the graduate program then another two years after graduation. For licensure, psychologists must pass the state required exam, and any other specialized exams for specific fields of study plus their required post-graduate field experience.
Is a behavioral therapist the same as a psychiatrist?
As long as they have experience and certification, a psychiatrist can practice any type of psychological therapy. However, a psychiatrist is also a medical doctor who can prescribe medications. As such, behavioral therapists and psychiatrists have different educational and licensure requirements.
What makes a good behavioral therapist?
To be a successful behavioral therapist, one must first have the knowledge, expertise, and ethics. However, it’s just as critical to have compassion and empathy toward clients. Therapists must create a safe, supportive, non-judgmental environment where clients can feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings.
Active listening skills are critical, as are strong problem-solving skills to effectively identify and address specific challenges. Therapists with good listening and problem-solving skills can analyze complex situations, develop appropriate treatment plans, and help support clients in achieving their goals.
Behavioral therapists must be flexible in tailoring treatment approaches to meet the client’s unique needs and managing interventions throughout the treatment process. Since this typically takes time and effort, it’s important for therapists to be persistent and patient, as well.
Is being a behavioral therapist stressful?
All mental-health professions can be stressful at times. Working with clients struggling with mental health issues or behavioral challenges may require behavioral therapists to navigate complex and potentially distressing situations. In addition to coping with such occasional emotional intensity, issues with work/life balance, time management, and self-care can lead to burnout for some therapists.
Do therapists get emotional?
Therapists do get emotional while counseling clients in some situations. For example, therapists may experience countertransference responses in which they develop emotional reactions towards the patient and their experiences. This may happen for many reasons, but grief, trauma, or loss are common triggers— particularly when a therapist has had similar experiences.
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