C-500 Theory Outline

PCN-500 Theory Outline
Erica Boltz
I. Theory: Behavioral Therapy
a. Key Concepts
i. This approach operates by the following principles
1. Behaviors are strengthened or weakened by its consequences
2. Behaviors that get rewarded will increase and the ones that get punished will decrease
3. This is a functional approach, rather than structural
4. Positive and negative environments can have a positive or negative affect on client
5. Behaviorism is ant mentalist
6. Behavior therapy is empirically based and data driven
7. The changes that clients make in therapy must be incorporated into their daily living
8. Insight ONLY is not beneficial for client ii. Behavior is determined by the environment iii. Humans are motivated to adapt
Flooding which exposes people to fear-invoked objects to treat phobias, anxiety, and stress related disorders
b. Systematic desensitization which is for client to make a list of fears and then relax while concentrating on these fears, this is to assist with phobias as well
c. Aversion therapy is pairing an undesirable behavior with aversive stimulates in hopes that the unwanted behavior will be reduced
2. Operant- behavior maintained by its consequences
a. Token economies relies on reinforcements to modify behavior such as behavior contracts
b. Modeling which is the client learning by observing others and their behaviors
c. Extinction focuses on the elimination of reinforcing a behavior, such as a time-out (Cherry, 2014).
v. Theorists are reluctant to discuss childhood events, but rather focus on current conditions of behavior vi. Healthy people use adaptive behavior vii. Dysfunction stems from maladaptive behavior such as fear viii. Behavior is not considered to be equivalent to mental illness (Murdock, 2013). ix. The goal of this approach is to reinforce desirable behaviors and eliminate unwanted maladaptive ones
x. This is action based therapy xi. This approach is geared towards teaching clients new behaviors (Cherry,
Theory: Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
a. Key Concepts
i. Focuses on uncovering irrational beliefs that could lead to unhealthy negative emotions and replacing them with rational alternatives ii. Views people as ‘responsibly hedonistic’ in essence that people strive to remain alive and happy iii. People adopt irrational beliefs that stand in the way of achieving goals and purpose iv. Utilize the ABC framework:
1. A- activating events
2. B- beliefs about them
3. C- consequences of behavior (Mulhauser, n.d.).
v. Believe it is not the events that disturb people, but their view of them vi. Behavior should never equate a person vii. Basic human motivation is to obtain pleasure and avoid pain viii. Do not believe in rating people ix. Believe human behavior is biologically inherited and taught through environment
x. Most important environmental influences are other people xi. Healthy people rely on rational thoughts xii. Healthy people value flexibility, open-mindedness, and acceptance xiii. Values in REBT philosophy are:
1. Long-range hedonism
2. Self interest
3. Social interest
4. Self-direction
5. Tolerance of others
6. Acceptance of life’s ambiguity
7. Openness and flexibility to