Introduction

The behavioural approach to counselling makes the b asic

assumption that most Client problems are problems in leaning.
Therefore, behavioural theory Counsellors would view their task as
attempting to help those who come to learn New more adaptive
behaviours. The counsellor thus operates as a special kind of
Learning specialist. The approach places faith in t he laws of
learning established Through investigation. There are three general
categories under which most of the Principles of learning fall:
 a. Classical or respondent conditioning;
b. Operant conditioning and
c. Imitative learning.

Although there are wide divergences in the specifics of behavioural

view Point, fundamental agreement exists regarding the f act that
most of human Behaviour is learned. Behaviour is thus modifiable
by the manipulation and the Creation of learning conditions.
ORIGIN OF BEHAVIOR THERAPY
Behaviour therapy was popularized by the U.S. psychologist B.F.
Skinner, who worked with mental patients in a Massachusetts state
hospital. From his work in animal learning, Skinner found that the
establishment and extinction (elimination) of responses can be
determined by the way reinforcers, or rewards, are given. The
pattern of reward-giving, both in time and frequency, is known as a
“schedule of reinforcement.” The gradual change in behaviour in
approximation of the desired result is known as “shaping.” More
recent developments in behaviour therapy emphasize the adaptive
nature of cognitive processes.
One of the most prominent behaviour techniques, variously known
as systematic desensitization, reciprocal inhibition, extinction, or
counter-conditioning, has its experimental basis in work done with
animals in the 1950s by psychologists Joseph Wolpe and Arnold
Lazarus. In one such experiment, cats were conditioned with electric
shock to refuse to eat in a confined space. Their conditioned fear
was overcome by feeding them in remotely similar situations and
gradually increasing the similarity until all signs of anxiety had
disappeared. When the technique, known as desensitization, is
applied to human problems, patients may be asked either to imagine
anxiety-producing situations or to deal with actual feared objects or
situations. The construction of hierarchies of fears is perhaps the
most important part of the procedure; the patient’s verbalized
responses are the primary source of information, although the
therapist may also rely on such other sources as diagnostic tests or
interviews of family or friends of the patient. Often relaxation
training is employed in the presence of the anxiety-producing
stimuli. The theoretical question of whether these procedures
involve reduction in the habit strength of anxiety responses or
establishment of alternative, adaptive responses to the same stimuli
remains unresolved.
Behavioural counselling, as developed by Skinner an d Lindsley
(1954), Eysenck (1964) is the use of experimentally established
principles of learning for the Purpose of changing maladaptive
behaviour. According to Krumboltz and Thoresen (1976)
behavioural counselling is a process of helping people to learn How
to solve certain interpersonal, emotional and decision problems. The
Behavioural counselling approach operates under the assumption
that clients with Training can be taught to change their behaviour.
T he approach is concerned with Observable, immediate and
durable action in the liv es of the client.
Thoresen (1966) characterized behavioural counselling with a five
fold Statement.

1. Most human behaviour is learned and is therefor e subject to

change.
2. Specific changes of the individual’s environment can assist in
altering Relevant behaviours, counselling procedures seek to
bring about, relevant Changes in student behaviour by altering
the environment. .
3. Social learning principles, such as those of reinforcement and
social Modelling can be used to develop counselling
procedures.
4. Counselling effectiveness and the outcome of counselling are
assessed By change in specific student behaviours outside th e
counselling Interview.
5. Counselling procedures are not static, fixed or predetermined
but can be

Specifically designed to assist the student in solving a particular

Problem.
Types of Behavioral Therapy
There are a number of different types of behavioral therapy. The
type of therapy used can depend on a variety of factors, including
the condition being treated and the severity of the person’s
symptoms.
Applied behavior analysis uses operant conditioning to shape and
modify problematic behaviors.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) relies on behavioral techniques,
but adds a cognitive element, focusing on the problematic thoughts
behind behaviors.
Cognitive behavioral play therapy utilizes play to assess, prevent, or
treat psychosocial challenges. The therapist may use play to help a
child learn how to think and behave differently.
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a form of CBT that utilizes
both behavioral and cognitive techniques to help people learn to
manage their emotions, cope with distress, and improve
interpersonal relationships.
Exposure therapy utilizes behavioral techniques to help people
overcome their fears of situations or objects. This approach
incorporates techniques that expose people to the source of their
fears while practicing relaxation strategies. It is useful for treating
specific phobias and other forms of anxiety.
Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) focuses on identifying
negative or destructive thoughts and feelings. People then actively
challenge those thoughts and replace them with more rational,
realistic ones.
Social learning theory centers on how people learn through
observation. Observing others being rewarded or punished for their
actions can lead to learning and behavior change.
Behavioral therapy can be utilized to treat a wide range of
psychological conditions and disorders, including:
Alcohol and substance use disorders
Anxiety
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Autism spectrum disorders
Bipolar disorder4
Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
Depression
Eating disorders
Panic disorder
Phobias
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Behavioral therapy is problem-focused and action-oriented. For this
reason, it can also be useful for addressing specific psychological
concerns such as anger management and stress management.
The therapy is generally short-term and directly focused on
eliminating or managing specific problems. It involves contributions
from you and the therapist.

What Is CBT?
Cognitive behavioral therapy is based on the idea that feelings and
behaviors are caused by a person’s thoughts, not on outside stimuli
like people, situations, and events. While you may not be able to
change your circumstances, you can change how you think about
them. According to cognitive behavioral therapists, this helps you
change how you feel and behave.

In the treatment of alcohol and drug dependence, CBT can help a

person:
1. Improve self-control
2. Recognize situations in which they are most likely to drink or
use drugs
3. Avoid trigging circumstances, if possible
4. Develop coping strategies that will help when they are faced
with situations that trigger cravings
5. Cope with other problems and behaviors that may lead to their
substance abuse
The primary goals of CBT in the treatment of substance use are to
improve motivation, learn new coping skills, change old habits, and
learn to better manage painful feelings.

Types of CBT
There are several approaches to CBT. This includes:

Cognitive therapy
Dialectic behavior therapy
Rational behavior therapy
Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT)
Rational living therapy
During a CBT session, you and the therapist will work together to:
 1. Determine the problem
This can be mental health condition symptoms, work or relationship
stress, or anything else that’s bothering you.

2. Examine the thoughts, behaviors, and emotions associated with

these problems
Once the problems are identified, you will work with the therapist to
begin looking at how you’re reacting to the thoughts around these
problems in order to affect your emotions and actions.

3. Spot negative or inaccurate thoughts, behaviors, and emotions

There are a number of ways you can perceive or deal with
something that worsens a problem. This can include thinking
negatively about yourself or focusing on the negative aspects of a
situation or occurrence.

4. Change your reaction

During a session, you and the therapist work together to replace
these with more objective, realistic, or balanced thoughts. This can
include attempting to view a situation more objectively, which can
generate positive thinking or at least strengthen your coping skills in
challenging situations.
CBT helps people learn to better identify the negative and self-
defeating thoughts and actions that can contribute to substance use.
It is a short-term, focused therapeutic approach to helping drug-
dependent people become abstinent.
Applying CBT for depression and problem substance use
Depression
CBT for depression usually starts with education about depression
and helping the client understand their symptoms as part of an
illness that they can do something about.
Treatment strategies include helping clients to establish structure
around daily activities, to become more aware of their mood and
challenge negative thoughts, and to engage in pleasurable activities.
The therapist and client work together to challenge negative
attitudes the client holds about the self, the world and the future,
which may contribute to feelings of hopelessness.
Selena believed she was “no good” and a “failure” at work, in her
romantic relationship and in her friendships. Over the years, she
came to expect that bad things would happen and that things would
always be difficult for her. This led her to give up on things quickly
and believe that there was “no point in trying.” selena’s therapist
helped her identify these beliefs and look at the evidence for and
against them. She was able to learn that she viewed the world in
black and white, and started challenging herself to see the middle
ground. Selena also learned to be more assertive and to do more
activities that made her feel good about herself.
Substance use disorders
In the area of substance use, CBT was first used as a method to
prevent relapse when treating problem drinking. It was later
adapted to treat individuals who are addicted to nicotine, cocaine,
marijuana and other drugs.
Cognitive-behavioural strategies for substance use disorders are
based on the theory that learning processes, such as reinforcement
and conditioning, play an important role in the development of
addictive behaviours. People learn to identify and change problem
behaviours by applying a range of different skills that can be used to
reduce or stop drug use. Specific skills include:

Exploring the positive and negative consequences of continued

substance use

Self-monitoring to recognize alcohol or drug cravings early on

Identifying high-risk situations for substance use

Developing strategies for coping with and avoiding high-risk

situations and the desire to use

The therapist and client work together to anticipate problems and

develop effective coping strategies.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy — or CBT — is a talking therapy for

mental health conditions. It’s based on the idea that our thoughts
and behaviour are connected. It helps people understand and
challenge thoughts that negatively impact their behaviour. It
typically takes place over a fixed number of sessions and is a
solution-focused type of therapy.
Application
CBT has been applied successfully to a wide range of mental health
conditions. Here are some of the most common conditions it’s used
to treat:
Depression
CBT was originally developed to treat depression — and remains
one of the most widely used forms of therapy for the condition
today. Computerised versions of CBT have also been developed to
help people with depression treat themselves at home. The therapy
helps identify any negative thoughts contributing to the depression
and replace them with more accurate, rational ones.

It also helps you identify any behavioural changes that could help
improve your mood. For example, people with depression often find
it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, and they also tend to
withdraw from friends and family, as well as activities they
previously enjoyed. CBT can help you to gradually make changes to
these areas of your life, in a way that feels manageable.

Anxiety
CBT is one of the most effective forms of therapy for anxiety. It can
help treat many types of anxiety, such as panic disorder, social
anxiety, and phobias.
The thought challenging aspect of CBT is critical for the treatment
of anxiety — cognitive distortions are often responsible for the
heightened feeling of anxiety (e.g. ‘catastrophising’, or focusing on
the worst-case scenario).
The behavioural component of CBT for anxiety often involves
graded exposure, which means gradually facing your fears rather
than avoiding them, in a way that allows you to manage and reduce
your fear at each step. This is a highly effective aspect of CBT for
anxiety.
Schizophrenia
People with schizophrenia often suffer from psychosis, which
includes delusions or hearing voices. These symptoms can be
extremely stressful, and the stress has been found to make the
symptoms of schizophrenia worse.
CBT can disrupt this negative cycle, helping people cope with their
symptoms and improve their quality of life — especially when used
following an early diagnosis.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
CBT is one of the key treatment options recommended for OCD.

Therapy involves understanding what is driving your unwanted

intrusive thoughts and rituals and learning to respond differently so
that they decrease over time.
As well as understanding the thoughts that lead to driving the
compulsive behaviour, CBT can help people suffering from OCD
challenge their behaviour too.

It asks the question:

What would happen if you resisted your compulsions?

For example, if your OCD is driven by a fear of contamination, your

CBT therapist might slowly encourage you to challenge this fear.
This might involve using a gradual approach to touching objects you
consider to be contaminated, without then engaging in
handwashing. Over time, repeated exposure helps reduce symptoms.
Eating Disorders
CBT is an effective treatment for many eating disorders, with
different types of CBT used for different disorders.
It is one of the most effective ways to treat bulimia nervosa and
binge eating disorder — so tends to be the first line of treatment for
these conditions.
Anorexia nervosa tends to be more complex and involves a multi-
disciplinary approach. But CBT plays an important role and is one
of the most recommended types of treatment.

The behavioural approach to counselling has relevance for the

Nigerian client. The clients’ particular behaviour to be changed can
be identified and the Appropriate behavioural technique utilized to
change the behaviour identified. Thus, the individual need of the
client is taken in to consideration. Some of the Broad based
behavioural counselling techniques disc used can be effectively used
With the Nigerian client.

Cognitive behaviour therapy has many benefits over other forms of

therapy when it comes to treating mental health conditions. Here
are a few of them:

1. It Gives People Hope About Their Condition

The nature of mental health conditions means sufferers often feel
pessimistic about their future. It can be hard to think ahead to a
time where your illness will no longer impact you.
CBT changes this — giving people hope.
It does this by helping people see that our thoughts are not always
accurate. They do not always represent what’s likely to happen in
reality.
When we learn how to challenge our thoughts, we open our minds to
new possibilities. The possibility that life could be very different.
2. It Develops More Rational Thought Processes
The main benefit of CBT is that it helps us gain control of our
thoughts.
Cognitive distortions are common and often happen automatically,
without question. Over time, the process of questioning and
replacing negative thoughts can transform our thought processes.
You no longer allow negative thoughts to take control but can think
rationally and evaluate the appropriate response to difficult
situations.
3. It Helps People Develop Self-Esteem
Many mental health conditions are associated with low self-esteem.
This feeds into the cycle of negative thoughts influencing behaviour,
and vice versa.
But CBT can disrupt this pattern and help you develop more
confidence in your own abilities.

When you start to understand how your thoughts work and how
they are under your control your entire belief system changes. This
includes the way you view yourself.
 4. It Can Help People Relax
The behavioural aspect of CBT helps us learn to control how we
respond to our symptoms.
A lot of the time, this involves developing calmer responses using a
variety of relaxation techniques.
This helps us to regulate our responses to triggers and reduce
symptoms.
5. Anger Management
Controlling one’s anger and learning to direct anger is a major issue
with the mentally ill patient. Patients feel guilt and shame and these
feelings turn into anger at the world. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
addresses the underlying issues that allow emotions to become
overwhelming. It teaches patients various methods to help control
emotional responses and to assist them in recognizing the reasons
behind the anger.
6. Relapse Prevention
Patients suffering from mental disorders often relapse. Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy provides patients with the tools they need to
prevent relapses. Because patients have learned to identify their
problems and learned coping methods, they are better equipped to
recognize the thought patterns they need to avoid. This is not to say
that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy provides instant success. It is
short term and it requires hard work, but the benefits of it are
worth it all.
7. Coping Skills Improve
The cause of many disorders is an inability to cope with stressful
situations such as grief or trauma. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
provides patients avenues to deal with such situations. They learn to
express themselves instead of bottling things up.
Limitations of behavioral therapy
Behavioral therapy is a natural extension and application of many
of Skinner’s views focusing on observable behavior. there are also
some weaknesses or limitations with this technique. For example:
1. The exact role cognitive processes play is yet to be determined.
2. The cognitive model or theories are very narrow in scope. Our
thoughts are just one part of being human – there are more
issues that need to be addressed.
3. CBT is classified as a directive therapy that aims to change
thoughts and beliefs, however this is sometimes done in a more
forceful way. There are even those who argue that this method
can be unethical
The first criticism pertains to the lack of attention that behavior
therapy gives to emotion. Behavioral practitioners hold that
empirical evidence has not shown that feelings must be changed first
in order to achieve measurable progress. In general, behavioral
practitioners do not encourage their clients to experience their
emotion, although some will work with aspects of emotion. Critics
argue that emotions play a significant part in behavioral responses
and should not be ignored. The strict emphasis on overt behavior to
the exclusion of an inner life was a core concept that Skinner held
throughout his career.

So hence, if there is not an inner life or at least one worth attending

to, then it would follow that insight into one’s motives or origins of
behavioral responses would be of little value. This criticism states
that behavior therapy ignores the importance of self or self-
consciousness to the exclusion of overt behavioral responses.
Skinner rejected the idea that such internal agents such as an ego or
self allow us to make independent and free choices or derive any
true benefit for examination of internal processes. This viewpoint,
however, does not adequately take into account the reflective nature
and imagination of the individual. A person cannot, as critics
suggest, simply turn off his or her ability to reflect on past events or
what propels them toward or causes them to back away from
various choices.

Another criticism of behavior therapy is that it treats symptoms

rather than causes. The psychoanalytic assumption is that early life
events are the source of present difficulties. Behavior therapists may
acknowledge the existence of past life events but do not place
particular importance to those events in the maintenance of current
problems. Instead, the behavioral practitioner emphasizes changing
environmental circumstances and how those environmental forces
reinforce particular behaviors. Critics respond with the argument
that it is natural for humans to conceptualize a cause and effect
relationship in behavior. This is an example of sequential learning
and is used in many ways to describe the process of progress.

A final therapeutic criticism of behavior therapy involves the use of

control and manipulation by the therapist toward the client. The
therapist assumes a position of power with the client where he or
she, through the process of reinforcement, can potentially
manipulate the client’s behavior responses. This criticism is largely
a misunderstanding of contemporary behavior therapy. If applied in
a strictly Skinnerian model, the potential for manipulation would be
greater. However, all therapeutic approaches give some degree of
control to the therapist, who hopes to facilitate change in the person
seeking help. Most modern behavior therapists are not attempting
to control their clients or manipulate them. In fact, many use
techniques aimed at increased self-direction and self-control.

Some of the commonly cited criticisms of behavioural counselling

are that:
1. The approach is impersonal and manipulative.
2. The counselling goals are often predetermined by the
counsellor.
3. The constructs of learning adopted by behavioural counsellors
are not comprehensive enough.

CBT is a complex methodology that has various models which can

be used in therapeutic practice.
One of the more popular models is the ABC model where the
individual and counsellor identify:
A – the activating event, eg the event that caused the meltdown or
panic attack;
B – the individual’s belief relating to the event and the consequences
this belief has on their life and relationships.
C – and ways to change the individual’s belief about a specific event
ie in changing the belief, the consequences caused by this belief will
also change.

In Conclusion
Research has shown that CBT can be an effective treatment for
substance use disorders, both on its own and in combination with
other treatment strategies. CBT typically involves a number of
distinct intervention such as operant learning strategies, skills
building, and motivational element that can either be used on their
own or combined. CBT is one of the most researched forms of
treatments, so there is an abundance of evidence and support for its
use with a variety of mental conditions, including alcohol and
substance use disorders.
Cognitive behavioral therapy works well for some, but not for
everyone. This is the case with all alcoholism and drug treatment
approaches, because every person deals with and recovers from
addiction in a different way.
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