Behavior therapy

The Behavior therapy In addition to psychoanalysis, denotes another large group of therapy options in the field of psychotherapy. It developed from concepts based on learning theory around the 1940s, but has no special founder.

What is behavior therapy?

In contrast to other therapy models, the behavioral therapeutic concept is strongly based on research results from medical, psychological, biological and sociological areas. Research in the field of learning theory is important.

The tries with three different approaches Behavior therapyto change mental disorders as well as behavior disorders through special techniques. It assumes that every behavior is learned and thus unlearned again or can be replaced by new behavior patterns.

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Three model approaches are used:

Counter conditioning / confrontation, operant conditioning and the cognitive approach. With a problem-oriented and goal-oriented approach, behavior therapy tries to bring about a change in behavior that fits the personality and can thus persist permanently. Pathological and disturbed behavior patterns are successfully cured in this way.

Function, effect & goals

Since the Behavior therapy knows no clearly defined procedure, it offers different models and techniques and is therefore suitable for a variety of behavioral and mental disorders. However, it is of particular importance in the following diseases: anxiety and panic disorders, eating disorders, depression, substance abuse and psychosomatic diseases. All diseases are based on a disturbed behavior pattern.

A behavior analysis takes place at the beginning of the therapy. As part of this analysis, the faults are identified and goals are set. The course of therapy usually takes place in phases and the patient has to work actively and thus take on personal responsibility.

The aim of therapy is either to give up or change undesired behavior, or to build up a desired behavior, such as self-confidence. Several goals can also be worked out in parallel.

These goals can be achieved through different approaches. The decisive factor here is the patient's personality, because human behavior is understood as a system that functions and communicates on different levels: cognitive, physiological, emotional and behavioral. There are constant interrelationships and interactions, overlaps and tensions between these levels, which is why a level cannot be viewed in isolation.

A change in behavior always causes a reaction and change in the other levels. For this reason, patient self-control is an essential part of therapy. He learns to control himself and his behavior and to deepen it through constant training so that it becomes an independent behavior and the old, undesirable behavior is superimposed or replaced.

This type of behavior modification can be done gradually over a longer period of time or through direct confrontation, a method that is often used for anxiety disorders.

Which approach is chosen depends on the personality and condition of the patient and is always worked out together with the patient. In this way, possible excessive demands can be avoided. In addition to conventional methods, behavioral therapy also uses techniques from the areas of relaxation, hypnosis and role play. The range of possibilities makes them individually applicable.

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Risks & dangers

A Behavior therapy is of course no guarantee for a successful healing. Since this is a short-term therapeutic approach, it is not suitable for profound and severe mental disorders, such as those that often occur after long-term and severe trauma.

It also requires a certain psychological stability and requires active cooperation on the part of the patient, which in severely schizoid patients is only possible through a medication-based attitude.

Behavioral therapy is unsuitable for disorders that require extensive and intensive processing of past events. It can become important at a later point in time, but is not used for processing. If behavior therapy starts here too early and trauma is not dealt with adequately, serious setbacks can occur later.

In these cases, the learning success through behavior therapy is mostly irrelevant. For some patient groups, therapy is only possible through drug use, such as in severe depression. It is important that the behavior changes can persist even after the medication is discontinued. It is important to carefully weigh up whether behavior therapy can contribute to the healing success or another form better suits the personality and the disorder.