Behavioral Theory In Counseling

The theory being utilized in this case approach is Behavioral Theory. According to Corey, the basic assumptions are that behavior therapy is “based on the scientific method” and sets replicable goals that are agreed on by both client and counselor. Behavior is defined as anything that is “operationally defined”, which includes actions, “cognitions, images, beliefs, and emotions”. This theory deals primarily with the present prevailing issues. There is importance placed on examining the client and the client’s present environment. The client must actively participate in counseling sessions and in his or her environment by learning “new and adaptive behaviors to replace old and maladaptive behaviors”. It is believed that changes in behavior can …show more content…
He stated that he started gambling to pay for his medical expenses and he has recently stopped gambling after his separation from his wife. His current environment includes living alone and separately from his immediate family. The maladaptive behaviors he is experiencing are persistent anxious thoughts and loss of sleep due to these thoughts. My initial conclusions would be that my client and I must routinely ensure that goals are being met. My client must be active and willing to participate in new techniques. My client will be asked to keep a journal to monitor his sleep patterns and feelings of anxiety. I will use “functional assessment”, specifically the “ABC model”. My client and I will discuss his “situational antecedents (A), behavior (B) and consequences (C)”. Assessment will be unending throughout the course of therapy by “observation and self-monitoring” (Corey, 2013). My client and I will both need to be aware of how his behaviors change throughout our sessions to determine if the techniques we are using are the most effective for his treatment. The long term goals that my client and I have agreed on would be that my client would like to learn to manage his anxious thoughts. The short term goals would be that he would like to learn new practices that allow him to fall asleep and sleep throughout the night. My client believes …show more content…
According to Alley, “training involves successively tensing and relaxing the various muscle groups”. This technique will help my client “identify feelings of tension and generalize the relaxation response to real life situations” (1983). This will help my client when he is experiencing an inability to fall asleep and may benefit him when he is experiencing anxious thoughts. The other technique my client and I will be utilizing will be acceptance-based behavior therapy (ABBT). According to Zargar, Farid, Atef-Vahid, Afshar and Omidi, ABBT is successful in treating generalized anxiety disorder and helps to “develop a more acceptable attitude and willingness” to deal with “internal experiences”. This technique “could reduce the distress and interference associated with the unpleasant internal experiences” and it will “decrease the negative reactivity and the cycle of anxiety” (2013). By accepting his feelings of anxiety and utilizing the progressive deep muscle relaxation, my client will be able to reduce persistent anxious thoughts and eliminate sleep disturbances. As the counselor, my role is to “be active and directive and to function as consultants and problem solvers”. I must “rely heavily on empirical evidence about the efficacy of techniques they apply” to the client’s presenting problems. The counselor plays an active role in teaching skills “through provision