Behavioral Counseling Philosophical Underpinnings

Theoretical Models of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 4th Edition Chapter 8: Behavioral Counseling Mario De La Garza, Ph.D., Southern Methodist University Janice Miner Holden, Ed.D. University of North Texas

Historical Context Three waves : 1st: 1900-1960 Classical and operant conditioning 2nd: mid-1960s-1980sCognitive revolution 3rd: 1990s-present Mindfulness therapy

Philosophical Underpinnings: 1stwave Evolutionary continuity Animal behavior identical to human behavior Reductionism Dismantling behavior into its smallest components Determinism Behavior caused by current environmental contingencies Empiricism Emphasis on the observable, testable, measurable

Philosophical Underpinnings: 2ndwave Evolutionary continuity Human language and instrumentality qualitatively different than those of other animals Reductionism Dismantling behaviors and thoughts into components Determinism Reciprocal between environment and behavior Empiricism Perceptions and expectations about environmental contingencies and self- efficacy more predictive than actual contingencies and self-efficacy

Philosophical Underpinnings: 3rdwave Uncertain how mindfulness relates philosophically to the first two waves

Philosophical Underpinnings: Common to All Three Waves Four themes: Scientific approach Depathologizing of clients and their problems Emphasis on role of learning in behavior Activity: Both counselors and clients do in addition to talk Three characteristics: Present-focused Individually tailored treatment packages characterized by step-wise progression Treatment follows a stepwise progression Brief

Nature of Humans: Function of the Psyche At birth, all individuals have the capacity to learn behavior. Beginning in early infancy, innate, biologically based tendencies influence how a someone attends to, interprets, encodes, and selectively remembers environmental phenomena.

Nature of Humans: Structure of the Psyche Personality: The sum total of a person s behaviors actions and cognitions including: Innate, involuntary overt actions Acquired/learned overt actions, both involuntary and voluntary Covert actions/cognitions/emotions: sensory images and word thoughts

Role of the Environment Behaviors are learned through experiences in the environment. Learning: a relatively permanent observable change in behavior that results from experience or practice ABC (antecedent, behavior, consequence): Current behavior is the result of events occurring before and after the behavior.

Operant Conditioning Voluntary behaviors first occur through: Random or accidental emission Trial and error Imitation

Operant Conditioning Once a voluntary behavior occurs for the first time, the subsequent presence, absence, strength, and frequency of the behavior is the result of: Positive reinforcement Negative reinforcement Extinction Punishment

Operant Conditioning Effects an increase in behavior Effects a decrease in behavior Involves pleasure positive reinforcement extinction Involves pain negative reinforcement punishment

Operant Conditioning Schedule of reinforcement Continuous Regular intermittent Interval Ratio Irregular intermittent Spontaneous recovery Generalization Discrimination

Classical Conditioning Each individual is born with some involuntary responses to environmental stimuli. In classical conditioning, individuals learn to emit those involuntary responses to new environmental conditions.

Classical Conditioning The process begins with an unconditioned (unlearned) stimulus that elicits an unconditioned (unlearned) response: unconditioned response unconditioned stimulus startle/ anxiety crash of thunder

Classical Conditioning When a stimulus that does not naturally elicit the response occurs with or just before the unconditioned stimulus conditioned stimulus flash of lightning unconditioned stimulus crash of thunder unconditioned response startle/ anxiety

Classical Conditioning the new (conditioned) stimulus will elicit a conditioned response similar to the unconditioned response, even in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus: conditioned stimulus unconditioned stimulus unconditioned response conditioned response flash of lightning crash of thunder startle / anxiety

Relationship of Operant and Classical Conditioning Almost any observable behavior a person emits has both operant and classical conditioning components.

Familial versus Extrafamilial Environments Behaviorists acknowledge the impact of the family as the first environment an individual experiences. Behaviorists are most concerned with a person s current environment and how it is influencing one s current behavior.

Unhealthy Functioning Problems in living Failure to learn behaviors that yield more pleasure/reinforcement than pain Having learned behaviors that result in only intermittent pleasure/reinforcement and in substantial pain

Healthy Functioning Painlessness Competency in problem-solving Ability to obtain reinforcement: At least a 5:1 ratio of pleasant: unpleasant experiences? Behaviors that promote physical health Optimism, hope, self-esteem, and confidence, life satisfaction

Personality Change Process Change environment Change behavior Corrective learning experiences

Clients Role Client (and counselor) determine goals of counseling. Client assists in determining strategies to achieve goals. Client is responsible for following recommended process. Client keeps counselor informed of behavioral changes.

Counselors Role Conveys genuine empathy and positive regard for client. Helps client determine goals. Formulates goals in terms of increase or decrease in current discrete actions and thoughts. Provides strategies to achieve goals. Uses positive reinforcement as much as possible.

Counselors Role Assessment Interview Self-report inventory Behavioral report by others Systematic observation Role-playing Physiological measurement

Counselors Role Operant Conditioning Change Strategies Modeling Role-play Activity scheduling Mastery/Pleasure rating Reinforcement of a competing response Diversion Extinction Punishment Token economy

Counselors Role Classical Conditioning Change Strategies Exposure and response prevention Systematic desensitization Flooding Aversion therapy

Counselors Role Responding to client resistance : Make sure Counselor is more pleasant than aversive in relationship with client. Client and counselor goals are aligned. Assessment has identified all relevant aspects of client s problem. Treatment consists of steps client can manageably master one at a time.

Interface with Recent Developments in the Mental Health Field Nature/Nurture Genetics set the range of possible behaviors. Environmental conditions strongly influence behaviors. DSM 5 Diagnosis Philosophically antithetical Pragmatically, most behaviorists diagnose. Pharmacotherapy Behaviorists value empirical literature supporting effectiveness of psychoactive medication. Behaviorists favor learning new skills over long-term dependence on pills.

Interface with Recent Developments in the Mental Health Field Managed Care/Brief Therapy Behavior therapy is designed to change specific behaviors in a short time. Technical Eclecticism Behaviorists use any technique empirically supported to change behavior in some cases even when its consonance with behavioral philosophy is questionable.

Culture Sources conflict on whether behaviorists have empirically demonstrated effectiveness with culturally diverse populations. Responsiveness to diverse populations probably not commendable, but improving.

Gender and LGBTQ Issues More attention is needed in these areas Conversion or reparative therapy to change sexual orientation rejected on ethical and/or empirical grounds.

Spirituality Can address religious/spiritual problems in living just like other problems in living.

Effectiveness of Therapy Behavioral and cognitive-behavioral therapies have the strongest empirical support of any approaches, but their effectiveness relative to other therapies is not yet well established. Easy to manualize/standardize

Limitations Charges that behavioral therapists are impersonal and mechanistic have been discredited. Behavioral theory does not account for profoundly transforming spiritual experiences. Behavior therapy appears to have lost its theory base.

Contributions Specific treatment procedures for specific client concerns. Treatment manuals that guide therapists in the most evidence-based yet individualized approaches. In some cases, more than one approach to a client problem, which expands client choices.

References Fall, K. A., Holden, J. M., & Marquis, A. (2023). Theoretical models of counseling and psychotherapy (4th ed.). Routledge.