BEHAVIOR THERAPY

FUNCTION OF THERAPY

            The Function of the behavior therapist focuses mainly in counseling or she/he serves as a consultant in behavior change, a supporter and motivator in the process of change, as a resource in clarifying the problem and designing change strategies and as a model of more functional behavior. A behavior therapist may also work with people around the client environment to ensure continuous and effective behavioral therapy.

            Behavior therapy has four major steps which a behavior therapist should follow when dealing with his/her client. First, the behavior therapist attempts to define the problem accurately and concretely. After defining the problem of the client, the therapist conducts a developmental history of the client. Next step is helping clients establish their specific goals. Lastly, the behavior therapist determines the best methods for change.

GOALS OF THERAPY

            The goal of behavior therapy is to extinguish the clients identified maladaptive behavior and to introduce or strengthen adaptive behavior that can serve as a replacement and enable him/her to live a productive, happy life. The key to reaching this goal is to help the client learn new behaviors.

            The behavior therapist must view the process of change through the three behavioral lenses of learning three paradigms that can stand alone but are often integrated.

            Respondent learning occurs when a stimulus that is neutral in paired with a stimulus that has an effect until the neutral stimulus begins to elicit the same effect primer of stimulus.

            In operant conditioning a behavior occurs and some event follows the behavior that is reinforcing. Positive reinforcement increases the change of the behavior’s reoccurring in the future. Negative reinforcement on the other hand, is anything that increases the probability of a response as a result of avoiding not been emitted. While punishment refers to the aversive consequences of a response and is followed by a decrease in that response.

            In social modeling or vicarious learning occurs independently of reinforcement and when a person sees another behavior that teaches him/her a new way of behaving.

            The general goal of behavior therapy is to create new conditions for learning to ameliorate problem behavior.

Summary of ECED 13 reports

GROUP MEMBERS:

Bardinas, Evelyn

Rencio, Jomalou

Tolentino, Leopoldo

Tanayan, Geraldine

Rieza, Fredalyn A.