An Eclectic Model Of Behavioral And Cognitive Beha

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An Eclectic Model of Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy The two therapeutic theories that I can identify most with are behavior therapy and cognitive behavior therapy. I would like to work with autistic children, so these are two theories that I will be using with this population. The two go hand in hand as cognitive behavior therapy is formed from the framework of behavior therapy. Behavior therapist meet the client where they are and work on the here and now rather than the past or unconscious feelings. a.) View of Human Nature Like these two theories, I believe that people are not just a product of their environment, but they are born with the ability to make their own decisions and learn from their mistakes. Behavioral therapy is consistent with my view because it is grounded on a belief that “humans are not a mere product of their sociocultural conditioning…the person is the producer and the product of his or her environment.” (Corey). Behavioral Therapists give control to the client and give them the freedom to make their own choices. Cognitive behavior therapy is based on the belief that people are born with the ability to have rational and irrational thinking, and it helps clients to accept themselves and their mistakes. They teach the client that they will continue to make mistakes and is a normal part of life. However, the psychoanalytic theory is inconsistent with these views because it is rooted in the belief that our behavior is determined by unconscious forces. Also, that sexual and death instincts are the sources of our actions and our motivation for pleasure and pain. b.) The Therapeutic Process The main purpose of behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy is to create goals that increase the client’s personal choices and create new conditions for learning. Clients have an active role in decisions about
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