Written by: THE BALANCE
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Boss, MD
Last updated: January 19, 2026
Fact checked
Quick Summary
  • We generally overlook or undervalue the critical nature of having a positive attitude regardless of the circumstances.
  • We are all prone to developing unproductive or destructive patterns of thought, especially when problems occur.
  • However, some individuals are predisposed to allowing negative emotions to manifest into detrimental behaviors.

Our ideas and behaviors are inextricably linked. We generally overlook or undervalue the critical nature of having a positive attitude regardless of the circumstances. We are all prone to developing unproductive or destructive patterns of thought, especially when problems occur. However, some individuals are predisposed to allowing negative emotions to manifest into detrimental behaviors. When challenges are worsened by problematic thought patterns or mental distress, awareness of how one’s ideas relate to the symptoms is critical for resolving associated anguish. 

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) places a high value on and promotes healthy interaction, interpersonal skills, and other personal interests. Additionally, it targets adaptive learning skills such as grooming, physical agility, self-sufficiency, regularity, and good workplace attitudes. According to an article published in Cognitive Therapy and Research, behavior therapy is a therapeutic procedure that aims to alter “maladaptive cognitions” in human thought that can exacerbate emotional suffering and undesirable behaviors. Such factors include an individual’s beliefs, worldview, self-image, and viewpoint on the future. Behavior therapists use a variety of therapeutic procedures to try to transform these maladaptive cognitions in order to alleviate and remove emotional pain and unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Behavioral therapy is a broad term that refers to a variety of therapeutic strategies for modifying dysfunctional behavior. The objective is to encourage positive behaviors while decimating undesirable ones.

Behavioral therapy is centered on the concepts of behaviorism, a school of thought that emphasizes the concept of environmental learning. This technique was introduced in the early twentieth century and quickly established itself as the leading psychological intervention. Edward Thorndike was one of the pioneers to make reference to the concept of behavioral modification.

In contrast to insight-based therapies (such as humanistic or psychoanalytic/psychodynamic therapies), behavioral therapy is action-oriented. As a result, behavioral therapy is usually highly targeted. The behavior is the problem, and the aim is to educate people new to learn new habits or alter the old ones that will help to mitigate or solve that problem. (source: APA, n.d.)

According to behavioral therapy, if prior learning contributed to the creation of a problem, then subsequent learning can resolve it.

Certain types of therapies place an emphasis on delving into the past in order to acquire a clearer understanding of present emotions. Behavioral therapy, on the other hand, focuses only on current beliefs and thoughts.

Behavioral therapy can assist individuals with a variety of issues in which their thoughts and opinions are critical. It highlights the need of identifying, challenging, and changing one’s perspective on a problem.

According to behavioral therapy, people’s thought patterns are like wearing a pair of goggles that alters their view of the world. Behavioral therapy increases our awareness of how these thinking patterns shape our world and influence our behavior.

Modifying perceptions and distortions. Psychotherapy strives to alter any negative ways of thinking and behavior that impede beneficial outcomes. When someone is depressed, for example, their perspectives and judgments become warped. (source: NIMH, 2023)

  • A skewed perspective can make a person more prone to:
  • A pessimistic frame of mind
  • Judgments are drawn hastily
  • Erroneously seeing events as cataclysmic
  • Perceiving things in binary terms of good or evil with no in-between

When people acquire scared or negative patterns of thinking, they can develop an innate tendency to think in these patterns only. Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on questioning and contrasting these habitual thoughts with reality. When a person changes their way of thinking, their discomfort lessens and they are able to perform in a more beneficial way for themselves and those surrounding them.

As a person develops new skills, it gets simpler to approach challenges productively. This can help them cope with stress, increase their sense of control, and decrease their likelihood of developing depressed emotions. As an illustration, consider phobia of dental procedures.

A person suffering from dental phobia, for instance, avoids visiting a dentist since they feel they will suffer terrible pain or possibly death as a result of undergoing dental surgery. This anxiety may have developed as a result of a prior traumatic experience, possibly during childhood. A behavioral therapist can help the individual in addressing the false belief that because I experienced pain with a filling, every dental treatment will be uncomfortable. Together, the therapist and client can devise a strategy for approaching dental care in a fresh light and overcoming fear.

Behavior therapists do a comprehensive assessment or analysis in which they consider four critical areas: stimuli, organism, response, and repercussions. The stimuli are the circumstance or events in the environment resulting in a particular behavior. An organism is made up of a person’s intrinsic responses, such as physiological effects, feelings, and consciousness. A response is an individual’s behavior, and repercussions are the result of that behavior. These four factors are included in the behavioral therapist’s evaluation.

The majority of behavior therapists employ objective evaluation techniques such as structured questions, measurable psychological testing, and different behavioral rating scales. These assessments are intended to ascertain the nature of a client’s condition and to provide a baseline for any dysfunctional responses the patient may have. By establishing a baseline, this same metric can be used to monitor a patient’s progress during therapy; helpful in determining whether the therapy is successful. Generally, behavior therapists avoid asking ‘why’ queries and instead concentrate on the ‘how, when, where, and what’. The Rorschach inkblot screening and personality assessments such as the MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) are not commonly utilized behavioral evaluations since they are centered on personality trait theory and assume that an individual’s response to these procedures can predict behavior. The evaluation of behavior is mainly concerned with seeing a person’s behavior in their real natural environmental context. (source: NHS, 2022)

Behavioral evaluation is concerned with determining the contextual and self-imposed factors. These elements contribute to a person’s ability to retain dysfunctional thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. In a behavioral assessment, “individual variables” are also taken into account. These “individual variables” are derived from an individual’s overall learning history and influence how the environment influences that person’s behavior. Behavioral competency is an example of a person variable. Behavioral competency examines whether an individual possesses the essential abilities and behaviors for responding appropriately to a certain circumstance or stimulus.

When conducting a behavioral assessment, the behavior therapist aims to address two questions: (1) what aspects (psychological or environmental) contribute to the person’s maladaptive behavior, and (2) what form of behavior therapy or methodology will most likely assist the individual in getting better.

Behavioral therapy is target-directed and action-oriented. It is usually considered a demanding form of treatment due to the amount of effort and self-reflection required; nonetheless, it is a highly helpful form of therapy as well.

Support. Behavioral Therapy connects people suffering from mental diseases to a support network. Due to the action-oriented nature of the program, patients have someone to go to as they fight through their challenges. Patients can work toward modifying negative behaviors when they are aware that someone cares about them and their rehabilitation.

How does EMDR therapy work (source: NICE, 2022)

Enhances Self-Esteem. For several individuals, their condition is rooted in poor self-esteem. By concentrating and striving toward a remedy, Behavioral Therapy enables patients to develop self-esteem. As patients discover solutions, their confidence improves and they are able to overcome the condition.

Development of Constructive Thought. Many psychological diseases result in the emergence of unwanted thinking patterns that eventually take over the patient’s life. For many patients, negative thoughts occur with certain automaticity. Behavioral Therapy educates individuals on how to transform negative, irrational beliefs into more rational, positive ones.

Controlling Anger. Managing one’s anger and developing the power to guide it is a significant difficulty for mentally ill patients. Patients experience shame and guilt, which manifests as hostility toward the world. Behavioral Therapy explains the basic issues that contribute to the overpowering nature of emotions. It offers patients several techniques for managing emotional responses and assisting them in identifying the source of their anger.

Improved Communication Skills. Sustaining relationships is tough when one is depressed, addicted, or socially anxious. Behavioral Therapy teaches people how to express their sentiments to others without getting angry or ashamed.

Improved coping abilities. Numerous disorders are caused by a struggle to manage stressful conditions like sorrow or tragedy.  Behavioral Therapy teaches individuals how to cope with such circumstances. They learn to communicate rather than bottle up their emotions. (source: ADA A, n.d.)

Prevention of Relapse. Patients with mental illnesses frequently relapse. Behavioral Therapy teaches patients how to avoid relapses. Patients who have identified their challenges and developed coping mechanisms are better competent to recognize the patterns of thought they should avoid.

Behavioral treatment is classified into a variety of subtypes. The form of therapy employed will vary with a number of factors, including the disease being managed and the intensity of the patient’s symptoms. Operant conditioning is used in applied behavior analysis to mold and alter undesirable behaviors. The various types of behavioral therapy are as under:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Cognitive-behavioral play therapy
  • Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) 
  • Systemic desensitization 
  • Aversion therapy 
  • Exposure therapy 
  • Mentalization-Based Therapy
  • Psychoanalytic Therapy
  • Addiction Therapy
  • Behavioral classroom management 
  • Peer behavioral interventions 
  • Participation 
  • Parental behavioral training 
  • Combined Behavioral Management Interventions. 
  • Modeling 
  • Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT)
  • Social learning 

Behavioral therapy is being used consistently to treat a wide variety of disorders. It is generally regarded as extremely beneficial. Around 75% of those who attend cognitive behavioral therapy report some improvement from the treatment.

According to one study, behavioral therapy is most successful when used to treat: (source: StatPearls, 2024)

  • Generalized anxiety disorders
  • Bulimia issues 
  • Bulimia issues 
  • Somatic diseases
  • Depression
  • Alcohol and illegal substance use

Play therapy has been demonstrated to be quite beneficial in children ages between three to twelve. Nevertheless, this technique is being used more commonly in people of various ages.

Behavioral therapy requires you to collaborate with the therapist in order to develop the ability to evaluate and adjust your thoughts, attitudes, and actions.

Examples of the various behavioral therapy strategies include the following:

  • Planning activities
  • Graded exposure to difficult tasks
  • Techniques of mindfulness
  • Education and training in enhancing self-control 
  • Cognitive reorganization
  • Approximation in stages

Behavioral therapy typically consists of weekly 45- to 60-minute sessions lasting three to six months. Behavioral therapists may utilize any of the aforementioned strategies, depending on the nature of the psychiatric disease or behavioral condition being treated.

Examples of behavioral therapy in action: (source: NIH/NLM, 2023)

Scheduling activities. Individuals suffering from depression frequently lose interest in previously pleasurable hobbies. A behavioral therapist may arrange activities that their patient formerly enjoyed, such as long walks or meditation, and urge them to resume participation. These activities may be enjoyable for the patient and help them feel better while they are undergoing therapy.

Graded exposure to various tasks. In individuals with anxiety problems, another cognitive treatment strategy is the use of graded exposure assignments. Exposure is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) strategy that enables individuals to be exposed to what causes them dread or anxiety in a methodical (step-by-step) manner. For instance, a person may experience performance anxiety and feel compelled to flee the situation when confronted with it. Their therapist will attempt to introduce them to increasingly stressful events while providing training to moderate their behavior.

Mindfulness. Behavioral therapy may be beneficial for someone who has lost all faith in pursuing new tasks. For instance, suppose someone believes they would fail at anything they attempt due to previous failures. This incorrect assertion may prevent individuals from progressing in life, which only serves to frustrate and depress them further.

A cognitive therapist can assist this individual in identifying what is incorrect with their thinking and in reprogramming their thinking habit. They can assist their patient in living in the present moment rather than dwelling on past experiences by employing mindfulness and skill training methods: The goal of mindfulness is to disengage the individual from their continual negative thoughts and to pay attention to the current moment. The skills training technique assists the individual in developing abilities such as problem-solving. To do this, the therapist may offer the individual tailored assignments and encourage them to complete them.

Counseling is often brief (a few sessions) treatments and is aimed toward establishing and implementing possible solutions to a present issue or problem. While the prospect of counseling may conjure up images of lying on the couch and recounting your entire family history, counseling sessions are generally much more focused on the process and the problems or issues that are preventing you from moving forward, rather than digging deeper into the past (an exception for this is where necessary information needs to be brought in). The counselor’s role is not to compile an exhaustive historical or psychological analysis of you, but to help you in overcoming a current barrier. (source: NIDA, 2024)

  • Counselors accomplish this through the application of a core set of capabilities, which include the following:
  • Being a pleasant person – without prejudice, polite, and compassionate
  • Paying close attention to what you say without passing judgments
  • Inquiring where necessary and pushing you to delve more into the issue/problem
  • Summarizing and reflecting on what you are saying and feeling
  • Defining the critical concerns or difficulties with which you are confronted
  • Observing and taking note of your body language for extra cues regarding your emotional state
  • Interpreting or reframing parts of your experiences in order to assist you in adopting new views or comprehending the issue/problem more fully
  • Where appropriate, making comments, providing feedback, or providing information about the issue or potential solutions
  • When necessary (when trust has been established), employ confrontation or confront others to alter your perspective on an issue.

Counseling can be thought of as enlisting the assistance of an objective third person to assist you in resolving a challenging problem. Frequently, people seek counseling because they are uncomfortable sharing an issue with family, friends, or coworkers for whatever reason.

There is a common misconception that counseling and counselors only deal with simple and direct issues; however, it is quite common for people to bring quite complex issues to the attention of a counselor at the commencement: increased levels of emotional turmoil, collapse in professional or personal relations, major changes in life situation, or for those who are exposed to stressful events. Counseling is distinguished from therapy by its emphasis on short-term remedies rather than on the depth of the presenting problems.

In many circumstances, including some particularly difficult instances, a few sessions with a counselor is sufficient to both design and execute solutions to the problem(s) at hand. For instance, a counselor may educate an individual on methods for coping with moments of extreme distress. However, your time with a therapist may reveal that the issues you are battling have existed (in various forms) for a long period of time or are the result of ingrained habits of behavior, beliefs, or feelings. The counselor may propose that you require counseling in this case.

Behavioral Therapy is a medium- to long-term approach that focuses on long-standing perspectives, beliefs, behaviors, and emotions that adversely affect a person’s quality of life, relations, and/or employment.

In this way, therapy is widely perceived as ‘deeper’ than counseling because it aims to unearth and address the underlying or historical reasons for your troubles. Therapy outcomes are typically more striking, as they reflect major changes in your viewpoint, attitudes, temperament, or emotions. Additionally, therapy is frequently focused on equipping you with the tools necessary for continual self-knowledge and self-reflection. Such abilities can be quite beneficial following therapy in terms of knowing your unconscious urges and inclinations and how your mind functions. (source: Psychiatry.org, n.d.)

Counseling and therapy can appear fairly similar on the surface. Counseling and therapy sessions, for example, are normally 50-60 minutes long. Therapists, like counselors, utilize a number of the same fundamental abilities. Where therapy varies is that it is typically much lengthier (10+ sessions) and therapists incorporate additional methods and practices that have been proved to benefit people in comparable situations or with similar presentations (in psychological studies).

The type of therapy you receive is determined by a) the origin of your problems (including any systematic diagnoses), b) the therapeutic styles with which your therapist is comfortable, c) what psychology studies indicate is beneficial for people with similar issues, and d) the setting in which you receive assistance, e.g. personal psychology vs. community mental wellbeing.

A behavioral therapist is a qualified professional in behavioral psychology, psychiatry, or psychosocial science and has completed additional training in applied social and behavioral analytics. The majority of individuals rightly believe that behavioral therapists work exclusively with maladaptive, or problematic behaviors. The truth can be discovered in this notion of behavioral therapy, but in order to arrive at that conclusion, it is necessary to fully define what constitutes maladaptive, or difficult behavior and what makes adaptive, or usual behavior.

According to the Law of Polarity, everything should have its opposite in order to be fully recognized. Darkness has a counterpart in light, cold has a counterpart in warmth, and maladaptive behavior has a counterpart in adaptive functioning. Without a doubt, a behavioral therapist will address difficult behaviors. A behavioral therapist will evaluate the function, or explanation, for behavior and will recommend a course of action. This is where the converse occurs. If a child exhibits unacceptable behavior, there must be an opposing behavior that serves the same purpose. Biting a child for attention is maladaptive. The contrary is adaptive, and adaptive means of obtaining attention may include seeking for it or patting an adult on the shoulder, among other things. This is fundamental to behavioral therapy.

As you are starting to see, behavioral therapists must be concerned with not only disruptive behavior but also adaptive ones. Because the optimal strategy in life is always preemptive, and behavioral therapy is no exception, the primary goal of behavioral therapists is to teach before maladaptive behaviors occur. The goal of behavioral therapists is to educate kids on what they need to know to be able to reach their environment effectively. If a child understands how to obtain all he or she requires in the most efficient method possible, he or she will apply this knowledge. When we have accessibility to all appropriate means of obtaining our wants and requirements, difficult behaviors lose their value. (source: Cochrane, 2023)

From a more pragmatic, rather than theoretical perspective, behavior therapists have a plethora of distinct obligations. A behavioral therapist will examine problematic behaviors in terms of their function, or reason for occurring. A behavioral therapist will next construct a behavior plan outlining precisely how to handle the behavior inside the family, school, and in the natural surroundings when it does occur. A behavior plan will also contain strategies for rewarding and encouraging the desired behaviors as we work toward these healthy behaviors taking the place of the troublesome ones.

Unfortunately, even when a problematic behavior is replaced with a more appropriate one, the new ability may not become universal or applicable to many situations and contexts. For instance, if a child bites to obtain a toy and has learned to say “I want the toy,” the child may still become disoriented while attempting to obtain lollipops or may continue to bite when someone intrudes on his or her private space. This is where the educational component becomes critical.

A behavioral therapist must be able to recognize not only problematic behaviors but also gaps in a child’s upbringing. These gaps will be exploited in order to gain a better understanding of why a child engages in maladaptive behavior rather than a more efficient and acceptable behavior. Once these gaps are found, a behavioral therapist has to be able to use his or her imagination to develop an intervention plan tailored to each kid in order to teach the essential skills to close them. Behavioral therapists generally administer these programs as well and thus must be well knowledgeable in how to educate a child, how to conduct trials across all learning domains, how to correct mistakes, how to encourage or promote additional corrective actions, and so on. Basically, a behavioral therapist should know how to do everything possible to promote typical development in any person exhibiting maladaptive disparities that adversely impact the lives of those with whom we deal.

Behavioral therapists significantly improve the lives of those who may be having challenges. Fortunately, behavioral therapists are also some of the most compassionate, tolerant, and kind folks you will ever meet, and they’re always willing to assist. Therefore, if you are having difficulty; if you are seeking answers; if you are at a loss on how to help yourself, consult a behavioral therapist.

FAQs

What are the goals of behavior therapy?
Emotional intelligence and self-awareness are enhanced when patients learn to “read” their emotions and discriminate between healthy and harmful thoughts
Assisting patients in comprehending how erroneous attitudes and perceptions lead to suffering
Fast symptom reduction with a focus on assessing the patient’s current condition and resolving identified challenges

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