Behavioural counselling is one of the most modern methods of treating disorders of behaviour. In this Evert symptoms are considered important.
Symptoms are determined by individual differences; faulty learning is considered the cause of maladjustment; cure is achieved by treating symptoms without going into the past.
Behavioural counselling is based on laboratory of conditioning for describing behaviour and specifying the conditions under which it is acquired, maintained and eliminated.
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Behaviourists reject the idea that behaviour disorders are symptoms of hidden emotional conflicts that must be uncovered and resolved.
They argue that the behaviour disorder is the problem, not a symptom of the problem. If a therapist can teach a person to respond more appropriately, they feel he has “cured” him.
Behaviour therapies are based on the belief that all behaviour, normal and abnormal, is learned. For instance, the hypochondriac has learned that he gets attention when he is sick; the catatonic has learned that he is safe when he withdraws entirely.
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The therapists’ job is to extinguish such inappropriate responses and to teach the person more satisfying ways of behaving. He does not need to know how or why the person learned to behave as he does.
Behavioural counselling as a technique is based on the principle of learning. The most important contribution to behavioural counselling has been made by Pavlov, Skinner, Wolpe and John D. Kumboltz who believed that neurotic behaviour is acquired and is subject to the established laws of learning.
Goal:
The goal of behavioural counselling is to change particular behaviour efficiently and specifically.
The Counselling Process:
Blackhom and Silverman have suggested the following steps of behavioural counselling:
(i) Problem definition:
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The counsellor should specifically define the problem—all the circumstances regarding the inappropriate behaviour should be identified.
(ii) Development and social history of the problem should be prepared.
(iii) Specification of the counselling goals:
The client and the counsellor should come to an agreement as to what the problem actually is. It is the counsellor’s responsibility to decide if the goal is within his realm of expertise and in accordance with ethical behaviour.
(iv) Selection of methods:
The techniques used in the counselling, consistent with the client’s goals, need to be selected.