Behavior Therapy is most often associated with the famous B.F. Skinner. This theory is based on the premise that individuals learn from their environment. Behaviors are reinforced. During therapy it is the counselors role to focus on the reinforcement of desirable behaviors and elimination unwanted behaviors. The counselor is expected to help the client learn new, better behaviors. Behavior therapists focus on the current causes of behavior rather than focusing on client history. Extinction is a common technique used by Behavior Therapists, a prime example of this technique is time-outs.
It is obvious that this approach can easily be applied to a PK-12 setting. One situation that it can be applied is through a token reward system with a struggling student. As a future school counselor, it will be my role to help students with various issues. One issue may be academics. If a student is struggling academically, a counselor may opt to use a token reward system. For example, if the student receives grades above 70 for one week, the student can choose a token such as a toy or piece of candy. The student could also lose tokens for bad grades. This is a classic example of Behavior Therapy that is used very frequently in schools.
Video: Cognitive-Behavior Approach with a Couple
Told a story about flying planes - as if they were John Wayne. For the pilots, acting as if they were confident helped to literally decrease the mortality rates. The counselor talked to the clients about acting as if they were attached to each other. They would feel as though they were on a second date, if they acted as though they were on a second date. The counselor suggests that the clients can get back their emotional bond if they act as if they already had it. The clients are in turn creating their own environment to learn from. This is a very beneficial and useful tool within the BT approach.
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