The connections between the thoughts and actions are stronger than you can imagine. People must realize and appreciate the importance of positive focus in different situations. Everyone tends to fall into difficult situations when things go wrong.
However, some people are prone to negative thoughts and develop problematic behaviors. Be aware of the symptoms when problems overrule unhealthy thought patterns and result in psychological trauma. It is where behavioral therapy emphasizes and encourages healthy communication modes and social skills.
Behavioral therapy describes comprehensive techniques to change maladaptive behaviors and reinforce positive attitudes toward the problem. It strongly connects with the principle of behaviorism to learn from the environment.
Let’s explore the different kinds of behavioral therapy that address positive behaviors and self-sufficiency.
Six Types of Behavioral Therapy
Different kinds of people can benefit from behavioral therapy. Children learn better to control their behavior from these behavioral therapies. However, it is equally effective for adults and senior citizens age 65, comprising around 20 percent of the US population by 2030.
1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy combines behavioral therapy focusing on action patterns and thoughts. The therapist helps the person identify maladaptive thoughts and how they lead to self-destruction. The treatment revolves around the thoughts and beliefs that influence your actions.
Cognitive therapies focus on current problems and find ways to solve them. The primary aim of the treatment is to build a thinking pattern leading to a better quality of life.
Cognitive behavioral therapy develops self-awareness and clarity to help clients think positively. Clients can identify negative thoughts and the reasons behind them.
They learn to shift their negative views toward a positive direction. After that, people learn coping skills to handle difficult situations and relieve stress. A study from 2017 reveals that CBT increases connectivity between the brain regions.
The treatment is effective in treating the following mental conditions :
- Bipolar disorder
- Anorexia and bulimia eating disorders
- Insomnia
- Alcohol misuse
- Panic disorder
The advantages of cognitive behavioral therapy are :
- The treatment takes a short duration, unlike other therapies
- The structural nature of CBT provides different learning formats through groups, individuals, and books
- Focuses on individual capacity to change the negative thought patterns
- Effective as medicines to treat mental health problems
- Teaches to overcome everyday struggles through practical strategies
2. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Next comes the second behavioral therapy type, dialectical behavioral therapy. It helps to treat borderline personality disorders and emotional disorders leading to suicidal thoughts and unstable relationships. DBT focuses on core mindfulness, interpersonal relationships, emotional regulation, and reducing stress. Clients learn about the skills and strategies towards a healthy life.
DBT has the foundation of psychotherapies that helps clients to manage their emotions. It comes with several techniques to escalate conflicts. Initially, DBT helps with borderline personality disorder, but it is an addictive therapy. The sessions ensure that clients become more stable in managing their emotions. It benefits people and helps them recover from past trauma and emotional pain.
It allows people to learn moods, feelings, thoughts, and impulsive behaviors. Clients can learn skills to control their life and respond to challenging situations with healthy strategies.
The advantages of dialectical behavioral therapies are :
- Commitment toward positive changes
- Focus on present thoughts rather than past trauma
- Improve depression symptoms
- Fewer self-harm behaviors
- Reduces drug and alcohol misuse
A person can understand the changes and needs to find a suitable therapist to follow the advisable treatment.
This therapy has two versions, likely known as Humanistic therapy uses positive traits and behaviors to motivate people about their potential and emotions.
Integrative therapy combines different therapies to customize the approach to the client’s needs and behavior pattern.
3. Psychotherapy Treatment
The third behavioral type, talk therapy, has a strong foundation in conversations with trained psychotherapists. It treats mental disorders to help people become healthier. Some of the generalized approaches to psychotherapy treatments are-
- Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic Therapies
- Behavioral Therapy
- Cognitive Therapy
4. Computerized CBT
It is one of the trendy cognitive behavioral therapy for counseling and psychotherapy treatments. The method focuses on modifying the inner behavior and emotional state to improve well-being and depression.
CBT actively relieves mental challenges and addresses issues with new thought patterns. This psychotherapy treatment assists clients in treating mental trauma from chronic medical illness.
CBT was famous for face-to-face sessions until the advent of the internet and technologies. Nowadays, organizations are offering computerized CBT with artificial intelligence and algorithms. Examples of CBT applications are Pacifica, Smiling Mind, ICBT, etc.
A 2018 report shows the satisfaction rate of computerized CBT as an effective CBT.
The advantages of computerized CBT are :
- Identifying mental health challenges
- Clarifying the thoughts to trigger emotions
- Teaching about mental health issues and defeating negative thoughts
- Lowering the emotional reactivity to thoughtful responses
- Increasing self-care behaviors
5. Hypnotherapy
It is an adjunctive technique utilizing hypnosis to alleviate mental health disorders. Several hypnotherapy techniques include relaxation to visualize peacefulness and confront problematic behaviors. Hypnotherapists suggest changing behaviors and coping skills to overcome fear.
Therapists use mental imagery to resolve the negative thought patterns in mind. It helps them explore their unconsciousness safely with medical treatment. Hypnotherapy shows effective results from the early days for conditions like dementia, learning disorders, etc. A study from 2017 indicates hypnosis to be an immediate effect in treating anxiety.
Advantages of hypnotherapy :
- Treats people with phobias or anxiety disorders
- Pain management and weight loss
- Smoking cessation
- Chronic
- pain conditions
6. Art Therapy
This therapy deals with artistic methods to treat psychological disorders and achieve a happy mental state. It involves several techniques to generate creative expressions and foster the healing of mental conditions.
Clients rely on art therapies for self-expression and communication to relieve their problems. However, it became a formal therapy in 1940. The therapist notes that individuals with mental illness express their misery through art and drawings.
It lets them explore art and pictures as a healing property since art therapy came into the limelight. It requires counseling skills to facilitate the creative process with visual art, drawings, and other creative means.
Advantages of art therapy :
- It regulates behavior and treats anxiety
- Treats adverse diseases like cancer or brain injuries,
- Trauma recovery and alleviating mental challenges from dementia or autism therapy.
Wrapping Up!
Therapies are effective for children and families to cater to their mental needs. Talk to your healthcare provider or doctor for sleep problems, trouble breathing, or difficulty hearing or learning.
Before starting cognitive therapy, the therapist conducts a comprehensive evaluation to test the child’s mental well-being.
The Play Base is a leading provider of behavioral services for children to reach their developmental goals. The child-centric approach creates a relationship between the child and the therapist.
Customization plans are available to foster their growth and enrich family lives to their full potential. Request an appointment for behavioral therapy today!
