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The connections between our thoughts and our actions are powerful. We often don't realize or fail to appreciate the importance of maintaining a positive focus no matter what situations we find ourselves in. We are all susceptible to falling into ineffective or harmful thought patterns, particularly when things go wrong. However, some people are more prone to letting negative thoughts turn into problematic behaviors.

When problems are exacerbated by unhealthy thought patterns or psychological trauma, being aware of how one's thoughts can contribute to the symptoms is key to overcoming the associated distress. The field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) emphasizes and encourages healthy modes of communication, social skills, and other activities. It also addresses such adaptive learning skills as hygiene, motor dexterity, self-sufficiency, punctuality, and positive behaviors in employment settings.

An article in Cognitive Therapy and Research defines behavior therapy as a therapeutic process that attempts to change the "maladaptive cognitions" in human thinking that can make emotional distress and unhealthy behaviors that much worse. Examples of such conditions are a person's beliefs, models of the world, self-image, and feelings about the future. By applying various therapeutic strategies, behavior therapists attempt to alter these maladaptive cognitions as a way to reduce and eliminate emotional distress and unhealthy behaviors.

Origins of Behavior Therapy's Use in Mental Health Treatment

The history of behavior therapy can be traced back to the mid-20th century. Joseph Wolpe, Hans Eysenck, B. F. Skinner, Aaron Beck, and Albert Ellis were among the pioneers in the field; Beck and Ellis pioneered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The therapeutic strategies of Beck's model attempted to alter negative thinking patterns, or maladaptive cognitions, to ameliorate emotional trauma and discourage damaging behaviors. An article in Cognitive Therapy and Research explains that his basic model has been modified to create behavior therapy programs that consider each disorder's "cognitive and behavioral maintenance factors."

The National Alliance on Mental Illness notes that psychotherapy is "when a person speaks with a trained therapist in a safe and confidential environment to explore and understand feelings and behaviors and gain coping skills" and that CBT "focuses on exploring relationships among a person's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors." The behavior therapist interacts with the person to identify thought patterns that either cause or contribute to unhealthy activities and beliefs. The goal of CBT is to replace the problematic thoughts and actions with healthy ones in the specific real-world situations the person experiences in day-to-day living. It often takes much practice for the person to get in the habit of replacing negative thinking and behaviors with their positive counterparts.

Behavior Therapy's Many Uses in Mental Health Treatment

All types of people can be helped by behavior and ABA therapy. For example, the approach is effective in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), attention deficit disorders (ADDs), and other behavioral issues. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), experts in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are discouraging doctors from prescribing ADHD medicine to children under 6 until their parents first get training in behavior therapy.

The CDC reports that children are better able to control their behavior when they receive behavior therapy from their parents, who in turn are supported by health care professionals. The children function better in school and have improved relationships with family members. Among the skills therapists teach to parents are how to engage in active listening, give positive attention, and create structure and consistency.

The Society of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology defines behavior therapy as a process in which children and adolescents are prompted to behave in new, positive ways. The children and adolescents receive positive reinforcement when they make healthy decisions and learn to reject unhealthy behaviors. Sometimes negative behaviors are reinforced without people being aware that they are doing so - resulting in the negative behaviors occurring more frequently. Behavior and ABA therapy teaches parents and children how to avoid "traps" that unwittingly reward the wrong behaviors.

Behavior therapy is equally effective in treating mental illness in people age 65 and older, a population expected to comprise 20 percent of the U.S. population by 2030. In contrast to the stereotype of seniors as sad and lonely, most people in the age group are happy and satisfied - even reportedly more accepting of death than younger people - according to the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). That's why it's important to take note of mental illness in older people rather than simply attributing problems to "old age."

According to the ABCT, while the incidence of various types of psychological distress is lower among the elderly than in younger groups, older people who do need behavior therapy are less likely to request it. When they do receive treatment, their therapies are less aggressive than that of younger groups. The benefits of behavior and ABA therapy for people in all age groups need to be communicated more clearly to health care professionals and the public.

Effective Behavior Therapy Techniques

There is no single type of behavior therapy. In fact, what defines behavior therapy are many different types of specialized therapies, including the following:

● Cognitive behavioral therapy. The therapist helps the person identify unhealthy thought patterns and understand how those thoughts contribute to self-destructive behaviors and beliefs. Once the patterns are known, the therapist works with the person to think more constructively.

● Modeling. The therapist acts out a non-fearful response to a negative situation, and the person's anxiety may be reduced by imitating the non-fearful response.

● Classroom management. Teachers participate in promoting the student's positive behaviors, blocking negative behaviors, and focusing the student on academic work.

● Parent training. The child's parents are taught ways to reinforce positive behaviors, deter negative acts, and enhance the parent-child relationship. Parents are instructed on observing the child, using praise and positive attention to reward good behavior, setting rules, and addressing negative actions.

● Peer intervention. One or more of the student's peers help them address behavior problems. The peers are taught by a teacher to encourage positive behavior in academic performance and social settings. In addition to proving successful in boosting the student's health and well-being, the peer assistants benefit from their participation because it reinforces their positive behaviors and enhances their sense of responsibility.

Among the mental health disorders that can be treated with behavior therapy are addiction and substance use, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, eating disorders, insomnia, antisocial and borderline personality disorder, criminal actions, chronic pain, fatigue, and general stress. ABA has also been applied to enhance early-childhood education, sports performance, and organizational behavior management.

The Benefits of an MS ABA Degree for Future Therapists

The road to a career as a behavior or an ABA therapist begins with a higher-education program, such as Regis College's online Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis program, which is designed to teach the skills that lead directly to rewarding therapist careers. The program accommodates students from diverse health science backgrounds, combining firsthand experience with research work.

Among the courses offered in Regis College's MS ABA program are Verbal Behavior, Radical Behaviorism, Behavior Assessment, Behavior Intervention, Ethical ABA, ABA Training and Supervision, and Concepts and Principles II: Experimental ABA. Regis College's MS ABA program prepares students for careers as clinical supervisors, clinical directors, ABA training coordinators, and college and university professors. People who have earned an MS ABA degree are employed by hospitals, outpatient and residential treatment facilities, childcare centers, and schools. In addition to analyzing behavior, they develop behavior plans and help train parents and staff to put the plans into action.

Embark on a Career in Applied Behavior Analysis

Demand for behavior analysts will continue to grow, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which forecasts a 23% increase in employment between 2016 and 2026 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. The growth is driven in large part by the sharp increase in the number of children diagnosed with ASD. According to Labor Insight-Burning Glass, the number of positions for people with the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctorate (BCBA-D) certification increased by 800% between 2010 and 2017.

Learn More

Designed for students from a wide variety of health science backgrounds, the online masters in Behavior Analysis online program at Regis College is structured to prepare graduates for success in a variety of possible career fields. The program blends research and hands-on experience, and offers coursework in behavior assessment, treatment evaluation, ethical practices, and other related areas.
Recommended Reading
4 Methods for Increasing Communication Within Applied Behavior Analysis
How ABA Interventions Promote Positive Behavior
Helping People Make Changes: Applied Behavior Analysis Examples in Action
Sources
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Aging
Beck Institute of Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Behavior Analyst Certification Board, "US Employment Demand for Behavior Therapists: 2010-2017"
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Psychotherapy
Psychology Today, Applied Behavior Analysis
Regis College, Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis
Society of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, "What Is Behavior Therapy?"
The Albert Ellis Institute, Rational Emotive and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorders, and Mental Health Counselors
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavior Therapy for Young Children with ADHD
U.S. National Library of Medicine, "The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Review of Meta-analyses

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What Is Behavior Therapy, and Why Is It Important?

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Demand for behavior therapists is growing. Learn how Regis College's MS ABA program can prepare you for a career as a behavior therapist.

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The Center for Cognitive Therapy provides an active, directive, problem-focused outpatient therapy for a variety of clinical concerns, including mood disorders, anxiety and panic, life stressors, and many other issues. Patients will meet with a caring, respectful professional who will listen to their concerns, conceptualize the problem, and assist them in generating solutions and in building better psychological skills. The short-term and long-term benefits of cognitive therapy (also known as cognitive-behavioral therapy) have been strongly supported by a wealth of research.

If you have an appointment with us, please check in on the 3rd floor, Central Registration Station, and then come up to the 4th floor to fill out your BDI-II, BAI, and BHS mood questionnaires and to wait in the main waiting area for your therapist to come greet you.

Visit our Director's Corner for additional information.

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Home | Center for Cognitive Therapy | Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

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The Center for Cognitive Therapy provides an active, directive, problem-focused outpatient therapy for a variety of clinical concerns, including mood disorders, anxiety and panic, life stressors, and many other issues.

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Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy that involves one or more therapists working with several people at the same time. This type of therapy is widely available at a variety of locations including private therapeutic practices, hospitals, mental health clinics, and community centers.

Group therapy is sometimes used alone, but it is also commonly integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan that also includes individual therapy.

Types of Group Therapy

Group therapy can be categorized into different types depending on the mental health condition it is intended to treat as well as the clinical method used during the therapy. The most common types of group therapy include:

Cognitive behavioral groups, which center on identifying and changing inaccurate or distorted thinking patterns, emotional responses, and behaviors

Interpersonal groups, which focus on interpersonal relationships and social interactions, including how much support you have from others and the impact these relationships have on mental health

Psychoeducational groups, which focus on educating clients about their disorders and ways of coping; often based on the principles of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)

Skills development groups, which focus on improving social skills in people with mental disorders or developmental disabilities

Support groups, which provide a wide range of benefits for people with a variety of mental health conditions as well as their loved ones

Groups can be as small as three or four, but group therapy sessions often involve around eight to 12 people (although it is possible to have more participants). The group typically meets once or twice each week, or more, for an hour or two.

Group therapy meetings may either be open or closed. New participants are welcome to join open sessions at any time. Only a core group of members are invited to participate in closed sessions.

Group Therapy Techniques

What does a typical group therapy session look like? In many cases, the group will meet in a room where the chairs are arranged in a large circle so that members can see every other person in the group.

The precise manner in which the session is conducted, and any group therapy activities, depend largely on the goals of the group and the therapist's style.

Some therapists might encourage a more free-form style of dialogue, where each member participates as they see fit. Other therapists have a specific plan for each session that might include having participants practice new skills with other members of the group.

Group Therapy Activities

What Group Therapy Can Help With

Group therapy is used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including:

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Depression

Eating disorders

Generalized anxiety disorder

Panic disorder

Phobias

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Substance use disorder

In addition to mental health conditions, CBT-based group therapy has been found to help people cope with:

Anger management

Chronic pain

Chronic illness

Chronic stress

Divorce

Domestic violence

Grief and loss

Weight management

After analyzing self-reports from people who have been involved in the process, Irvin D. Yalom outlines the key therapeutic principles of group therapy in "The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy."

Altruism: Group members can share their strengths and help others in the group, which can boost self-esteem and confidence.

Catharsis: Sharing feelings and experiences with a group of people can help relieve pain, guilt, or stress.

The corrective recapitulation of the primary family group: The therapy group is much like a family in some ways. Within the group, each member can explore how childhood experiences contributed to personality and behaviors. They can also learn to avoid behaviors that are destructive or unhelpful in real life.

Development of socialization techniques: The group setting is a great place to practice new behaviors. The setting is safe and supportive, allowing group members to experiment without the fear of failure.

Existential factors: While working within a group offers support and guidance, group therapy helps members realize that they are responsible for their own lives, actions, and choices.

Group cohesiveness: Because the group is united in a common goal, members gain a sense of belonging and acceptance.

Imparting information: Group members can help each other by sharing information.

Imitative behavior: Individuals can model the behavior of other members of the group or observe and imitate the behavior of the therapist.

Instills hope: The group contains members at different stages of the treatment process. Seeing people who are coping or recovering gives hope to those at the beginning of the process.

Interpersonal learning: By interacting with other people and receiving feedback from the group and the therapist, members of the group can gain a greater understanding of themselves.

Universality: Being part of a group of people who have the same experiences helps people see that what they are going through is universal and that they are not alone.

Benefits of Group Therapy

There are several advantages of group therapy.

Support, Safety and Encouragement

Group therapy allows people to receive the support and encouragement of the other members of the group. People participating in the group can see that others are going through the same thing, which can help them feel less alone. The setting allows people to practice behaviors and actions within the safety and security of the group.

Role Modeling

Group members can serve as role models for other members of the group. By observing someone successfully coping with a problem, other members of the group can see that there is hope for recovery. As each person progresses, they can, in turn, serve as a role model and support figure for others. This can help foster feelings of success and accomplishment.

Insight on Social Skills

By working with a group, the therapist can see first-hand how each person responds to other people and behaves in social situations. Using this information, the therapist can provide valuable feedback to each client.

Affordability

Group therapy is often very affordable. Instead of focusing on just one client at a time, the therapist can devote their time to a much larger group of people, which reduces the cost for participants.

Effectiveness of Group Therapy

Group therapy can be effective for depression. In a study published in 2014, researchers analyzed what happened when individuals with depression received group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). They found that 44% of the patients reported significant improvements. The dropout rate for group treatment was high, however, as almost one in five patients quit treatment.

An article published in the American Psychological Association's Monitor on Psychology suggests that group therapy also meets efficacy standards established by the Society of Clinical Psychology (Division 12 of the APA) for the following conditions:

Is Group Therapy for You?

If you or someone you love is thinking about group therapy, there are several things you should consider.

You Need to Be Willing to Share

Especially if you struggle with social anxiety or phobias, sharing in a group might not be right for you. In addition, some types of group therapy involve exercises like role-playing and intense personal discussion, which can be overwhelming for people who are extremely private or uncomfortable around strangers.

You May Need to Try a Few Groups

Just like you might need to shop around to find the right therapist, you may also need to try a few groups before you find the one that fits you best. Think a little about what you want and need, and consider what might be most comfortable or the best match for you.

It's Not Meant for Crisis

There are limitations to group therapy and not all people are good candidates. If you or someone you love is in crisis or having suicidal thoughts, individual therapy is a better choice than group therapy. In general, group settings are best for individuals who are not currently in crisis.

How to Get Started

If you feel that you or someone you love might benefit from group therapy, begin with the following steps:

Consult with a physician for a recommendation of the best type of group therapy for your condition.

Consider your personal preferences, including whether an open or closed group therapy session is right for you. You may also choose to explore group therapy online.

Contact your health insurance to see if they cover group therapy, and if so, how many sessions they cover per year.

Before joining, think about whether you want to participate in an open or closed group. If you would prefer an open group, you can likely join in at any time. For closed groups, you will likely have to wait until a new session begins.

It is also important to consider whether group therapy will be sufficient on its own or if you need additional assistance in the form of individual and/or medication. Talk to your doctor or therapist to decide what treatment approach is right for your needs.

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Group therapy involves one or more therapists treating a small group of people at the same time. Discover some of the benefits of group therapy.

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Behavior Therapy for ADHD | Child Psychology