Behavior therapy effectiveness in group treatment settings

Therapy Behavior

Behavior Therapy

Behavior therapy may be referred to as the approach in psychotherapy, in the behavior tradition that focuses on a set of methods designed for reinforcing desired behaviors, and eliminating undesired without concerning the psychoanalytic state of the subject. These methods mainly focus on the behavior, and not the thoughts and the feelings that could be causing them. The behavior therapy is divided into two sections, a narrowly defined sense of behavior therapy and the behavior modification (Barraca 2012). Due to the need of solving this global problem, it was important to conduct group therapies and see how effective they would be. The clinics have not been very effective in handling the large numbers of patients who require behavior Therapy. Their methods have not been working perfectly hence the need for perfection. The society has changed due to different reasons hence the need for behavior therapy.

There are several reasons why behavior therapy is important in the society today. A lot has changed globally starting with economic factors. This is a major cause for behavioral changes with most people suffering from mild to serious depressions. The treatment has been unsuccessful with different clinics offering substandard methods of treatment. Some times it is the low level of education or the shortage in revenues that have caused these stressful behaviors. Language barrier has also been a big problem with some people lacking English as a second language. It becomes quite difficult dealing with these patients especially with minimum revenues. Sometimes they are going through too much in their lives until they have no time to deal with their depression. The therapeutic methods may not be enough for these people considering some of them are homeless, and lack food to eat. Others live in very dangerous environments. The teenagers have been exposed to celebrity lifestyles, and once they realized its way above their league, they get depressed or turn to substance abuse.

Group formation

Appointing a group leader was the initial mark which needed a person with a good understanding and knowledge in treatment of different mood disorders. It was important to have a leader who had training in similar fields. Secondly was to choose group members whereby one may consider gender, education, ethnicity, reading level among others. Making sure that they are all motivated people whose attendance is great was a line to be considered. The group had to have people who understood the purpose of the subject. Lastly the group had to check on conveniences in transport and other areas. However, some people had to be excluded. For example, psychotic people, and people who had minor treatable, depression. Others who were excluded were those ones under the influence of drugs or other substances. People of aggressive or antisocial behaviors were also left out.

What presented

All members were called to get an overview of the behavior therapy research. They were also informed on the time, place and the number of sessions that would be offered to them. During this orientation, the patients would ask questions and the leaders would answer. It is important for the group leader to identify if a patient is on medication that may affect the group's modality. The group leader is also supposed to identify individual member's issues in relation to their thinking, their health problems, and also their contacts with other people. Leaders would use individual sample cases in order to split the group issues to personal issues. Lastly it is important to check out on the patient's strengths.

Each session was given two hours, and by use of time-management skills, all areas were covered. These included identifying the patient's thoughts and moods. For those who missed previous lessons, they were given outreach. The member would be called and asked the reason for lateness and whether they would attend the next session. The group leader would couple them in order for them to take care for each other. Just to motivate a member who has been missing out, a note is written to them by the other members expressing how they missed them. At the end of the training, the leavers are encouraged to continue with whatever they had learnt as they welcomed the new members. Score cards are given to the graduating members who motivate the new members if the graph shows a positive response. The leaving members may identify areas that need changes. The general content in a session may include agenda and announcements, reviews, new materials, take home message, personal project and review and feedback.

There are members who are slow at doing their take home projects. Once this problem was identified, it was given priority in order to identify the obstacles that brought the delay. By use of problem-solving techniques, the group leader can help the member. It is important to encourage the member especially when they feel that nothing they do is right or matters. The leader can also ask the other members to assist in problem solving. Members are likely to volunteer with helpful information to assist their colleague. The group leader can also make sure that the project is finished within the session just to show the seriousness in it.

Conclusion

Behavior therapy needs to be seriously addressed because globalization has brought about a lot of negative living styles. Everyone seems to be on a fast lane without sparing time for themselves. The economy id bad due to the crisis and unemployment is on the rise. All these are factors causing depression, hence the need for behavior therapy. Society has taken on to working for over 10 hours in a day leaving very little time for rest. The bodies are exhausted and can not think right. Lifestyles have gone up meaning more spending. The mortgages are not working, and rents are so high. There is also the abuse of substances which has been used as pass time for some and as a stress reliever by others. Others are abusing substances to the idle time brought about by unemployment. Exposure by media has caused teenagers stress by them wanting to live celebrities' lives. This becomes overwhelming for them, and they turn to substance use or just getting depressed. The methodology used to tackle the issue was helpful with many more people coming to join the sessions.