Behavior therapy is a psychological treatment based on experimental psychology that aims to change symptoms and behavior. It originated in the 1950s with the work of B.F. Skinner and Joseph Wolpe, who developed techniques like systematic desensitization to treat phobias. Behavior therapy identifies maladaptive behaviors and seeks to correct them by applying principles of learning from classical and operant conditioning theories. Common behavior therapy techniques include shaping, modeling, contingency contracting, time out, and systematic desensitization which works to gradually expose patients to anxiety-provoking stimuli. However, behavior therapy has limitations in that it may change behaviors but not underlying feelings, and does not fully address the emotional process or importance of the client-therapist relationship.

1. Behavior Therapy Sathish RAJAMANI M.Sc (N) Lecturer AMCON

6. Behavior Therapy Theories

8. Behavior Therapy Theories