Adaptive Changes In Behavior Therapy

In the text “Relaxing Your Fears away,” the author presents how Joseph Wolpe, a behavior therapist, used a behavioral technique called systematic desensitization to treat anxiety disorders. Systematic desensitization is a technique that is supposed to lower a person’s level of anxiety steadily. The reason he used this technique was to see if this technique actually worked using his prior ideas that two feelings or responses cannot occur at the same time. Wolpe focused on the phobias his patients had and proposed that when his patients were in a relaxed state, then they would not respond with fear when presented with something that gave them anxiety.

My emerging theory employed aspects of therapy from the humanism, existentialism, dialectical behavior, and when necessary exposure therapy. These theories have represented me as a person. As I have presented them here, they through the lens of each other, they work to form one integrative approach. As Rogerian humanism has laid the foundation for ways of being, this theory also incorporated Dr. Marsha Linehan’s structure of dialectical behavioral therapy’s and goals expressed by Yalom in existentialism with specific practices in Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy. I intend to present specific elements theory that I have used as well as their limitations, and present them working together.

From the time of the advent of Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory and therapy until now, psychologists have searched for new and better ways to both understand and treat the human psyche. Many psychologists have spent their lives analyzing the complexities of human thought, behavior, and interactions with societal influences in order to find new ways to guide humans towards a more fulfilling human experience. Throughout time, various theories and models of therapy have emerged, each with their strengths and weaknesses in their efforts to help humanity live more fulfilling lives. Psychoanalytic, Adlerian, existential, person-centered, gestalt, behavior, cognitive, cognitive behavior (CBT), reality, feminist, postmodern, and family systems approaches have all made important contributions towards the evolution of psychological theory and therapy. One of the most widely accepted and practiced forms of theory and therapy in today’s world of psychology is CBT. Cognitive-Behavior Therapy has a rich and storied history, contains more inherent strengths than weaknesses, and provides effective treatment for a variety of psychological conditions.

The purpose of the goal staff will be to help a youngster in improving a specific behavior. This goal will be assessed by the staff and they will present their review twice a day on the basis of their observation that they noticed in an individual regarding a specific behavior.

Medical care in America is estimated to cost $2.7 trillion each year with roughly 30 percent of that cost attributed to ineffective or redundant care, approximately $800 billion (America's Health Insurance Plans, 2014; FOX, 2010). Within this section $44.6 billion is attributed to suicide treatment and medical cost (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). The CDD further estimates that with approximately 40,000 people dying of suicide annually suicide contributes to the 10th leading cause of death for Americans, narrowly being outstrode by kidney disease and influenza yet still achieving a higher overall medical cost than the ninth and eighth ranked causes of death (Keren, Zaoutis, Saddlemire, Luan, & Coffin, 2006;Webberley, 2015).

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral treatment developed by Marsha M. Linehan for the treatment of complex, difficult-to-treat mental disorders. Originally, DBT was developed to treat individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD; Carson-Wong, Rizvi, & Steffel, 2013; Scheel, 2000). However, DBT has evolved into a treatment for multi-disordered individuals with BPD. In addition, DBT has been adapted for the treatment of other behavioral disorders involving emotional dysregulation, for example, substance abuse, binge eating, and for settings, such as inpatient and partial hospitalization. Dimeff and Linehan (2001) described five functions

Fear, an intensive form of anxiety, can be crippling in nature to some people. It is important that we overcome our fears to be able to grow and mature. There are three main ways in which we can manage or resolve fear: behavioral therapy, systematic desensitization, and exposure desensitization. Behavioral therapy was introduced by John B. Watson, a behavioral psychologist, and involved an individual alternating engagements in coping and relaxation techniques to help desensitize that person to the stressors (Seaward, 2015). Systematic desensitization involves the anxious person learning to de-stress from the fear in small, piecemeal increments through which they always feel in control. Exposure desensitization, on the other hand, occurs when the individual is introduced to the real stressor is brief and save encounters with the stressor. Through combinations of the three different ways to

The key concepts of behavior therapy are that it “is grounded on a scientific view of human behavior that accommodates a systematic and structured approach to counseling” (Corey, 2013, p. 250). The attention is focused on the behavior of the person. Behavior therapy is about giving control to the client to expand their freedom. “People have the capacity to choose how they will respond to external events in their environment” (Corey, 2013, p. 250).

Choices Counseling & Skills Center is pleased to offer a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) introduction workshop specifically designed for substance use disorders. The workshop is an extension of standard Dialectical Behavior Therapy classes and focuses on complex emotional issues stemming from substance use. The Sierra Madre, California, counseling center is offering a one-day training course as part of a continuing series on this important subject.

It is certainly remarkable that Dr. Linehan has developed a treatment for borderline personality disorder that appears to be fairly successful; not only due to the fact she was able to overcome her own struggle with borderline personality disorder, but also because personality disorders in general are so difficult to treat. I think the reason why Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has been successful is due to the fact that Dr. Linehan truly understands what treatment could help an individual overcome their disorder.

The most common treatment for specific phobias is a form of psychotherapy called exposure therapy, although other treatments include other therapies or medication (Andrews et al. 2009). The goal of treatment for specific phobias is to improve quality of life so that patients are no longer limited by their phobias. Exposure therapy focuses on changing the response to the object or situation feared. Gradual, repeated exposure to the source of the specific phobia and the related thoughts, feelings and sensations can help patients to learn to manage their anxiety (Andrews et al. 2009). There are many variations of exposure therapy. In vivo exposure involves confronting the phobic stimulus head on but gradually. For example, a patient suffering

Kino is a 23 year-old, male Haitian immigrant. He currently resides with his brother Ryan. Their mother pass away in 2013. Kino is unemployed and currently a full time student attending Miami-Dade College, his first year.

This has complemented my personal practice philosophy to be genuinely committed to clients without knowing the outcome. During my critical incident there was plenty of times when the outcome did not look favorable. The patient became debilitated, unable to stand, speak, eat, breath, and increasing anxiety. The therapy was not successful alone but proved to statistics but when it became paired with an additional intervention such as medication the treatment became successful. Working in a treatment team offers other forms of treatment holistically the patient can benefit from. The medical team had to get the patient stable enough for dialectical behavioral therapy to become effective. As the two interventions ran its course together the patient

Mental health problems are often a negative influence on addiction and addictive behaviors, and few are as destructive as borderline personality disorder. This disease is a mysterious and misunderstood problem that creates a wild and difficult emotional life for anyone who suffers from it. It often walks hand-in-hand with drug use, exasperating addiction and making it even more severe.

The third wave of behavioral therapy includes acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. These types of therapies are designed to help people accept difficult life experiences and to persuade individuals to act on their core values. An evolution of cognitive-behavioral therapy, ACT, MBCT, and DBT not only include the thought process within the behavioral network, but mindfulness and acceptance as well. Instead of teaching people to control their thoughts and feelings in the case of CBT, ACT & DBT draws from far eastern philosophies of noticing and accepting the things in life that you cannot change.