Behavioral Counseling

What is Behavioral Counseling?

Behavioral counseling (BC) is a modality of counseling and psychotherapy using behavioral theory as the predominant method. These are the theories pioneered by Ivan Pavlov, John Watson, B.F. Skinner and Albert Bandura. BC involves use of classical and operant conditioning to understand and modify undesirable behaviors, extinguish phobias, and manage anxiety or panic attacks. It focuses very much on the here and now, real-time events and solutions. In BC, the psycho-dynamic roots of a problem and insight are de-emphasized in favor of a solution, rather than an understanding of the problem. BC emphasizes observable and measurable elements of human behavior.

Classical and Operant conditioning are the primary tools of behavioral psychology. Operant conditioning involves the use of positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement or punishment to produce behavioral change. A desired behavior will be associated with a reward which will increase the probability of the behavior occurring again. Negative reinforcement is the removal of aversive stimuli to a behavior. Punishment is the application of something aversive to discourage a behavior from reoccurring.

An example of behavioral psychology as a therapeutic method is through systematic desensitization. Phobias are learned behaviors, formed through classical conditioning. Agoraphobia, literally fear of the marketplace, or being in public, can originate if a panic attack occurs in a public place, e.g. the supermarket. The supermarket becomes a conditioned stimulus. The person quickly learns to associate the supermarket with panic symptoms, and experiences anticipatory anxiety, which can generalize to other markets, and even getting into the car, and eventually leaving the house.

The panic symptoms abate when the person flees or withdraws, which is the mechanism of negative reinforcement. Systematic desensitization reverses this process, by forming new associations. Through breathing control, distraction, and progressive muscle relaxation, the person learns a new association of relaxation or indifference to the market, through gradual exposure to the feared stimuli. This is a measurable, evidence based, time-tested method of extinguishing phobias. The empirical support of behavioral counseling is one of its greatest assets.

What is a Behavioral Counselor?

Behavioral counselors work with clients to determine negative behavior patterns that prevent the individual from realizing his or her potential. Counselors in this field spend a lot of time, at least initially, observing their client, recording data about the client’s behavior, and using that information to help form an effective treatment plan that will address the client’s specific behavioral issue. Oftentimes, these treatments focus on helping a client change the way they think to bring about changes in the manner in which they behave. Behavioral counselors work with clients that have a variety of issues, from depression to substance abuse to marital problems.

For example, a behavioral counselor working with an adolescent that has an anger management problem would first observe the child in his or her natural environment. They may visit the child at school or at home, noting how he or she reacts to certain environmental stimuli. The counselor would take notes regarding the child’s behavior, including situations, people, or events that trigger his or her angry outbursts. Then, the behavioral counselor would use that information to devise interventions that would help the child gain control of their anger and express their emotions in a more appropriate and healthy manner.

What Does a Behavioral Counselor Do?

Job duties of a behavioral counselor typically include conducting one-on-one therapy, group therapy, family therapy, or various types of support groups. As a behavioral counselor, you would conduct assessments of your clients to learn more about the client (or clients) you are working with including their backgrounds and their presenting concerns. You would also create a treatment plan that identifies the goals that are to be worked on in therapy. Examples of some goals might include having a child learn anger management skills. The objectives of this goal might be to teach and have the child practice deep breathing exercises, to create a relaxation kit, and to learn feelings identification and healthy expression of emotions.

As a behavioral counselor, you will often help clients to address their stress, identify their coping mechanisms and teach healthier and more adaptive coping strategies. You would also often incorporate cognitive work to help clients address unhelpful ways of thinking. You primarily want to help clients learn new ways of managing their stress and overcoming their troubles.