Behavioural Therapy
Behavioural Therapy
Behavioural therapy is based on the idea that certain behaviours are reinforced by the context and environment, while others aren’t reinforced or rewarded so they become less engrained.
For example, if a toddler gets a sweet every time they have a tantrum they may well continue to have tantrums to get sweets. Likewise, if you enjoy drinking socially that behaviour will be reinforced most of the time you go out with your friends, and it will be hard to stay completely sober.
Behaviours, including challenging behaviour in residential homes or other contexts, can be assessed using the Motivation Assessment Scale. This suggests four motivations for behaviours to be maintained: escape, avoidance, tangible rewards and for sensory reasons.
Behavioural Experiments
In combination with CBT, behavioural experiments are a nice tool to get you out of your comfort zone and build your confidence. For example, you might believe that everyone would laugh at you if you don’t drink on a night out, but soon learn that actually it has the opposite effect and others reveal they don’t want to drink as much either. It’s important to challenge our beliefs about ourselves with SMART goals towards positive actions and behaviours.
If we shift from what’s going on in our minds to what actions we’re taking in our lives, we can be open to changing our unhelpful behaviours and habits, while setting realistic and practical goals.
For example, if you were feeling depressed and wrote down all your activity for a week to discover you hadn’t got out of bed much, “staying in bed” could be linked to your low mood.
Rating your feelings when you’re doing other basic activities like going the shops could show your mood slightly lifts just going for a walk. Fill in your activity diary with your mood ratings and send it to us to discuss your in your first consultation.
If you’re able to rate your sense of achievement, closeness with others and enjoyment (ACE) our team can offer you Behavioural Activation, a behavioural treatment for depression to reduce your avoidance of positive activities that could help you feel better.
Contact us to help you understand the reasons for yours or your child’s behaviour, and to shape routines and behaviours in the future for the better.
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