People of all ages and genders have the potential to develop mental health disorders. For example, you could always develop anxiety, depression, or a substance use disorder. Regardless, behavioral therapy can help you overcome whatever you’re struggling with. However, you might want to know more about behavioral therapy in MD before getting help.

What Is Behavior Counseling?

In behavior counseling, people learn that changing the way they act can change how they feel. Therapists assess your behaviors and recommend activities to improve your experiences. Overall, the goal is to increase the positive activities to reinforce positive behavior. Thus, you’ll begin to eliminate the unhealthy or self-destructive behavior.

Behavioral therapy is beneficial for a wide range of disorders that affect children and adults. Aside from anxiety, depression, and drug use, it can treat panic disorders and phobias. For example, many counselors use this method to treat bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Common Techniques That Counselors Use

Therapists use several techniques in behavioral therapy to help clients manage their mental health. Typically, self-monitoring is the first technique they use. It requires clients to record all their daily activities. Then, counselors review the logs to see what you do during the day and customize a treatment plan around this information.

Therapists might also work with clients to schedule positive weekly activities. Then, they reward clients to reinforce the positive behavior. For example, this might involve giving clients vouchers in exchange for goods.

Furthermore, role-playing helps clients develop skills and predict problems that could occur in social situations. For example, if you have anxiety, counselors might help you practice starting conversations with strangers. This makes you more confident at social gatherings you might usually avoid.

Types of Behavioral Therapy in MD

Aside from the techniques above, there are several types of behavioral counseling. A treatment plan with behavioral therapy could include multiple methods.

Aversion Therapy

Often, therapists use aversion therapy for people with substance use disorders. This teaches clients to associate using drugs with an unpleasant stimulus. Many people, for example, relate alcohol to relaxation. However, therapists can teach them to relate drinking to unpleasant hangover symptoms, which can make them think twice about drinking.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a very popular behavioral therapy in MD. It combines behavior and cognitive therapies while focusing on your thoughts. CBT teaches you that negative beliefs influence negative behavior. Therefore, the goal is to change how you think so you can begin exhibiting healthy behaviors.

Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy (CBPT)

CBPT is similar to CBT, but typically therapists use it for children. They watch kids play to gain insight into specific behaviors. For example, therapists might ask the children to choose toys to play with or draw pictures. Then, counselors educate parents on how to communicate better with their kids by playing.

Get Extensive Therapy at Red Oak Recovery

Whether you have anxiety, a substance use disorder, or grief, Red Oak Recovery can help. Our addiction and mental health treatment facility offers diverse programs, including:

• Substance use treatment
• Grief counseling
• Anxiety treatment program
• Depression treatment center
• Trauma treatment
• Co-occurring disorder treatment

Red Oak Recovery has locations in Asheville, North Carolina, so if you live in MD, traveling for more effective behavior therapy is ideal. Our team uses a variety of evidence-based therapies such as CBT, nutrition therapy, gardening, and additional holistic treatments including acupuncture.

Don’t let mental illness ruin your life. If you live in Maryland, get the therapeutic treatment you need at Red Oak Recovery. Reach out to us now at 866-457-7590 to begin today.