Module 13: Behavioral Therapy

Description: Behavioral therapy integrates classical conditioning, operant conditioning, & observational learning to treat psychological disorders. We examine systematic desensitization & exposure therapy, token economies & contingency management, & modeling techniques as evidence-based interventions synthesizing learning principles into clinical practice.

Why This Module Is Important: Behavioral therapy demonstrates how learning principles create effective clinical interventions:

• Anxiety & Phobia Treatment: Apply systematic desensitization & exposure therapy using classical conditioning principles (extinction, habituation); design graduated exposure hierarchies for specific phobias, social anxiety, & PTSD
• Depression & Motivation: Use behavioral activation based on operant principles to increase engagement with reinforcing activities; apply activity scheduling & contingency management
• Developmental Disabilities: Implement token economies & ABA techniques for autism spectrum disorder & intellectual disabilities; use shaping & chaining for skill development
• Addiction Treatment: Apply contingency management to reinforce abstinence; use competing reinforcement schedules to shift behavior away from substance use
• Modeling in Therapy: Integrate observational learning through participant modeling for phobias; use videotape self-modeling for skill acquisition; apply cognitive modeling to teach coping strategies
• Evidence-Based Practice: Understand that behavioral interventions have strong empirical support; evaluate treatment effectiveness using single-subject designs from Module 2

This module synthesizes the entire course, demonstrating that understanding learning mechanisms provides powerful tools for treating psychological disorders.

Module Learning Objectives: By the end of this module students will be able to…

• MLO1: Recall behavioral therapy techniques based on classical, operant, & observational learning. (CLO1, ULO3)
• MLO2: Explain how systematic desensitization, token economies, & modeling techniques apply learning principles. (CLO3, ULO3)
• MLO3: Design a behavioral therapy intervention for a specific psychological disorder using multiple learning mechanisms. (CLO4, ULO3)

Test Yourself: If you truly “know” this material then you will be able to…

• Compare the effectiveness of exposure therapy versus systematic desensitization for treating social anxiety disorder, analyzing which classical conditioning mechanisms (extinction, habituation, counterconditioning) each technique employs. (MLO1)
• Explain why token economies are effective for children with autism spectrum disorder by connecting the intervention to operant conditioning principles including immediate reinforcement, conditioned reinforcers, & response cost. (MLO2)
• Design a comprehensive treatment plan for a client with dog phobia that integrates systematic desensitization (classical conditioning), reinforcement for approach behaviors (operant conditioning), & participant modeling with a therapist demonstrating safe dog interactions (observational learning). (MLO3)