Self Improvement

What Is Behavioral Therapy, and What Types Are There?

d91b58bcbf2508c97d41a54443d920ae

According to research, cognitive behavioral therapy alone can be 50-75% effective in reducing depression and anxiety.

Behavioral therapies have a range of uses, from training your brain to calm anxious thoughts to helping kids with autism.

But what is behavioral therapy? And which type might benefit you or your kids the most?

Keep reading to learn all about behavioral therapy, how it works, and the different types below!

What Is Behavioral Therapy?

Behavioral therapy is an umbrella term for therapies that aim to reinforce behaviors we want while eliminating old and damaging behaviors.

While some other types of therapy are based on insight, behavioral therapy is always action-based.

Behavioral therapy can be used to treat a wide range of mental health conditions, including:

  • Anxiety disorders
  • Depression
  • Substance use disorders
  • Eating disorders
  • Phobias
  • Bipolar disorder
  • ADHD

Patients usually learn behavioral therapy under the guidance of a licensed therapist.

Below are some of the most common types of behavioral therapy:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is one of the most popular types of behavioral therapy.

CBT focuses on how our thoughts and beliefs influence our moods. The idea is to build patterns of thought and behavior that increase the patient’s quality of life.

Some common cognitive behavioral therapy exercises include cognitive reframing, journaling, and progressive relaxation. Behavioral activation therapy is often a part of CBT treatment as well.

A version of CBT for kids is called cognitive-behavioral play therapy. The therapist will watch the child play and see what emotions that child may be having trouble expressing.

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is a type of behavioral therapy that involves gradually exposing a person to what they fear.

This can help people with conditions like phobias or anxiety disorders.

One subtype of exposure therapy is flooding. This is where you are directly exposed to the source of your fear in its full intensity. 

If flooding is too extreme, then patients can try systematic desensitization. In this type of therapy, the patient is slowly exposed to what they fear. Patients then learn to use relaxation techniques as the fearful stimulus increases in intensity.

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)

ABA is a behavioral therapy for kids that’s often recommended if a child is on the autism spectrum.

In ABA, the child works one-on-one with a practitioner to learn to adapt to social situations they have trouble understanding.

Common techniques include positive reinforcement and teaching the child the consequences of their behavior.

One of the top benefits of ABA therapy is that kids learn better self-control and self-regulation. ABA therapy can also help kids on the spectrum learn new tasks and improve their communication skills.

Now You Know the Most Common Types of Behavioral Therapy

The next time you wonder, “What is behavioral therapy?”, you’ll have a good idea of the different types.  

Many therapists specialize in one or more behavioral therapies, so be sure to ask if there’s one you’re interested in.

And for even more articles like this one, be sure to check out the rest of our site!