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Constructional Behavior Therapy
Paul J.H. Andreoli, Bart
E.E. Bruins and Janna D. van Delden-van der Wolf
Constructional Behavior
Analysis Foundation, The Netherlands
Constructional Behaviour Therapy
is a novel approach of symptom reduction without attacking the
symptoms directly. Instead, a systematic extension of successful
conduct is realized by which consequently symptoms fade away.
The approach is based on the body of knowledge derived from experimental
behaviour analysis. Its focal point is not the topography, but
the function of behaviour. According to the approach, symptoms
are not due to the presence of some symptom provoking stimuli
but to the absence of discriminative stimuli controlling active
avoidance behaviour. So, when a situation does not provide discriminative
stimuli for this dominant pattern, behaviour regulation fails.
The resulting dysregulation is the onset of symptoms.
Treatment is done according to a detailed, symptom-independent
protocol. It consists of two strategies and ten connected, novel
techniques by which behaviour regulation is restored and broadened
in order to prevent symptom occurrence.
Until now, Constructional Behaviour Therapy has been applied
to a variety of symptoms of at least 1000 clients. The outcome
is full of promise considering the evident precision of analysis,
the treatment effects and the satisfaction of both clients and
therapists.
Keywords: behavior therapy, symptoms, discriminative stimuli,
active avoidance behavior, novel approach |