What Is Behavioral Therapy?
Behavioral therapy is an umbrella term for types of therapy that treat mental health disorders. This form of therapy looks to identify and help change potentially self-destructive or unhealthy behaviors. It’s based on the idea that all behaviors are learned and that behaviors can be changed. The focus of treatment is often on current problems and how to change them.
Who Can Benefit From Behavioral Therapy?
Behavioral therapy can benefit people with a wide range of disorders.
People most commonly look for behavioral therapy to treat:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic disorders
- Eating disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Substance use disorders
Is Behavioral Therapy Effective?
Behavioral therapy has successfully been used to treat a large number of conditions. It’s considered to be extremely effective. About 75 percent of people who enter cognitive behavioral therapy experience some benefits from this treatment.
A 2012 studyTrusted Source found that cognitive behavioral therapy is most effective when treating:
People most commonly look for behavioral therapy to treat:
- Anxiety disorders
- General stress
- Bulimia
- Anger-related disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
Behavioral Therapy For Children
Applied behavioral therapy and play therapy are both used for children. Treatment involves teaching children different methods of responding to situations more positively. A central part of this therapy is rewarding adaptive behaviors that benefit a child’s functioning and discourage maladaptive behaviors, or those that interfere with a child’s best possible functioning.
This therapy often requires multiple people in a child’s environment to be committed to the process, including parents, teachers, and other important figures. It may take children some time to trust their counselor. This is to be expected.
How To Find A Behavioral Therapist
Finding a therapist can feel overwhelming, but there are many resources that can make it easier. You should make sure that the therapist you choose has the necessary certifications and degrees. Some therapists will focus on treating certain conditions, like eating disorders or depression. If you don’t know how to get started with finding a therapist, you can ask a general practitioner, a doctor who treats a broad range of conditions, for a recommendation. The general practitioner may recommend a psychiatrist if this is appropriate for you.