BEHAVIOUR THERAPY (BT) & BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION

BT functions on the rationale that all behaviors are learnt (be it adaptive and maladaptive); human beings are passive organisms that can be conditioned or shaped to do anything; and maladaptive behaviours can be unlearned or replaced by adaptive behaviours if the person receives exposure to specific stimuli and reinforcement (such as rewards or praises).

Behavioral therapies for children and adolescents differ widely, but they all focus primarily on how some problematic thoughts or maladaptive behaviors may unknowingly or unintentionally get “rewarded” within a young person’s environment. These rewards or reinforcements often lead to an increase in the frequency of these undesirable thoughts and behaviors. Behavior therapies can be applied to a wide range of psychological symptoms manifesting in adolescents and children. In BT, parents and children learn to promote desirable behaviors and reduce unwanted behaviors, thus, leading to behaviour modification.

ABA THERAPY

Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) is a type of therapy that can improve social, communication, and learning skills through reinforcement strategies. It is based on behaviorist learning principles, such as operant conditioning or classical conditioning, to direct an individual’s actions towards a desired outcome. What the therapy intends for is that an individual will replace undesired behaviors with desirable ones.

ABA was initially created in the 1960s to support autistic children. Today, it is sometimes used in therapy for ADHD or traumatic brain injuries, but autistic people still make up the vast majority of ABA recipients.

PLAY THERAPY

Play therapy is a form of therapy primarily applied on children. In this form of therapy, a child is encouraged to explore life events that may have an effect on their current circumstances; in a manner and pace of the child’s choosing, particularly through play but also through language.

Play therapy can help children to communicate, explore repressed thoughts and emotions, address unresolved trauma, and stimulate or experience personal growth and is widely viewed as an important, effective, and developmentally appropriate treatment.

When children are experiencing adverse personal problems, they often act out or engage in inappropriate or maladaptive behaviors. Parents may intervene to help but may find it difficult to offer effective aid if a child is unable or unwilling to discuss the problem they are expressing, verbally. Play therapy is thought to be one of the most beneficial means of helping children who are experiencing emotional or behavioral challenges. Though the approach may help people of all ages, it is specially designed to treat children under 12 years of age. A typical session may last for 30-45 minutes and may be conducted individually or in groups.

PARENTAL COUNSELLING

As much as parenting is one of the most rewarding experiences of life, it’s also quite tiring and time-consuming and challenging in itself. Apart from tending and attending to the daily needs of the child, parents are also responsible for helping their children develop social skills, life skills and appropriate behaviours. Since each child is unique in their personalities, much like adults, there is no ‘one size fits all’ as far as child-rearing is concerned. This might bring about confusion in parents and make them feel overwhelmed. If the child happens to be mentally or physically challenged or differently abled, their predicament can become even more taxing, sometimes even leading to rifts between the parents due to the stress they experience. Parents will need counselling at this stage not only on proper caring for their child but also on ways to cope with their own lives while taking responsible care of their child. The WINdow specializes in such services while aiding in psychoeducation.