How to Plan for a Behavioral Intervention

Behavioral therapy is a technique used by mental health professionals to help people get rid of self-destructive or upsetting behaviors and replace them with more productive ones. Modern behavioral therapy interventions concentrate primarily on changing thought processes. Behavioral therapy is usually a brief, time-limited procedure. Behavioral therapists use a structured process that involves educating the client about his problems and having him practice the techniques to change behavior.

Instructions

• 1

  Educate yourself on the different issues and mental disorders that can be treated using behavioral interventions. Learn about the treatments for clients with phobias. Phobias (fears of specific places or things) can be treated with behavioral interventions such as systematic desensitization. Contrast these techniques with the methods used for people with social phobias or anxiety disorders, who respond well to techniques such as mindfulness and relaxation. Get training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). This technique is helpful for people who have difficulty modulating their emotions, such as people with borderline personality disorder. By knowing about these different treatment modalities and what they are used to treat, you will be able to prepare the best intervention for the client's need.

• 2

  Understand the specific techniques that are used in behavioral therapy. Understand how to use homework assignments as part of your intervention. Homework is often given in behavioral therapy to give the client the chance to practice techniques learned in session. Learn techniques such as how to model better behaviors for the client and ways to integrate role-playing exercises and conditioning. For instance, if you work with children, use a notebook to keep track of behaviors and give a gold star sticker for positive behaviors.

  Understanding the various techniques employed by behavioral therapists will help you to be prepared to offer appropriate interventions in response to whatever specific problems your client has.

• 3

  Get training in the major types of behavioral therapy. Therapies such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and biofeedback (a relaxation technique that monitors body functions and brain waves) require specialized training. These therapies usually involve the use of a prescribed treatment method that happens in very specific steps. Learn as much as you can about these methods prior to trying to employ them. Use a supervisor who is knowledgeable in behavioral therapy to help you to design the best interventions for your clients and to use the techniques appropriately.