Future Perspectives In Behavior Therapy

Contemporary behavior therapy encompasses diverse conceptual positions, clinical and applied problems, and intervention techniques. Behavior therapy has spread to several disciplines to provide substantive concepts and procedures as well as methodological tenets regarding how intervention techniques are to be evaluated. The proliferation of behavior therapy research has produced a plethora of texts. Typically texts review the history of particular treatments and detail contemporary advances. The historical underpinnings are often emphasized with the heavily labored view that in order to understand where one is going, it is important to understand where one has been. To be sure, historical roots of behavior therapy are important to document. However, a given history might have many different outcomes. Similarly, the current status of par ticular areas is frequently reviewed. Sometimes the number of reviews seems to approach or exceed the number of sound studies that there are to be reviewed. A review of current work is obviously essential but leaves open major questions of where the work will all lead. A valuable addition to ex isting reviews would be information that points in a prescriptive or explicit way to areas that are likely to be important in future work. The present book is unique in its approach and focus. Brief reviews of contemporary advances are provided in diverse areas of behavior therapy and serve as a point of departure to chart emerging trends and future direc tions.

Edited by Steven C. Hayes and Stefan G. Hofmann, and based on the new training standards developed by the Inter-Organizational Task Force on Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology Doctoral Education, this groundbreaking textbook presents the core competencies of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in an innovative, practically applicable way, with contributions from some of the luminaries in the field of behavioral science. CBT is one of the most proven-effective and widely used forms of psychotherapy today. But while there are plenty of books that provide an overview of CBT, this is the first to present the newest recommendations set forth by a special task force of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies—and that focuses on the application of these interventions based on a variety of approaches for doctoral-level education and training. Starting with an exploration of the science and theoretical foundations of CBT, then moving into a thorough presentation of the clinical processes, this book constitutes an accessible, comprehensive guide to grasping and using even the most difficult competencies. Each chapter of Process-Based CBT is written by a leading authority in that field, and their combined expertise presents the best of behavior therapy and analysis, cognitive therapy, and the acceptance and mindfulness therapies. Most importantly, in addition to gaining an up-to-date understanding of the core processes, with this premiere text you’ll learn exactly how to put them into practice for maximum efficacy. For practitioners, researchers, students, instructors, and other professionals working with CBT, this breakthrough textbook—poised to set the standard in coursework and training—provides the guidance you need to fully comprehend and utilize the core competencies of CBT in a way that honors the behavioral, cognitive, and acceptance and mindfulness wings of the tradition.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of first, second, and third wave behavior therapies, comparing and contrasting their relative strengths and weaknesses. Recent discussion and research has focused intently on third wave behavior therapies, in particular Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This is in contrast with first wave behavior therapies (what today might be called applied behavior analysis or clinical behavior therapy) and second wave behavior therapies brought about by the “cognitive revolution”. The editors aim to provide a fuller understanding of this psychotherapeutic paradigm, tracking how behavior therapies have evolved through history and various paradigm shifts in the field. To this end, the book is organized into five sections covering: Introduction to the three waves of behavior therapy Assessment and measurement strategies Comparative issues and controversies Applications of the three waves of behavior therapy to 7 major disorders: anxiety, depression, obesity, psychosis, substance abuse, ADHD, and chronic pain Implications of and future directions for behavior therapies This volume provides a useful perspective on the evolution of cognitive behavior therapy that will inform the study and practice of a variety of mental health professionals.

As noted by its title, the focus of this book is centered on an examination of behavior therapy with children in clinical settings. Throughout, our goal has been to examine theoretical underpinnings, review empirical research, and illustrate clinical utility for a variety of behavioral proce dures with children. In pursuing this goal, we have described child behavior therapy as an approach based on empirical methodology, de rived from behavioral principles, and focused upon adjustment disor ders of children. The hallmark of such an approach is its accountability the extent to which the procedures and techniques presented in this text are demonstrably accountable must be determined at least partially by the reader. As students of child behavior, we have become sensitized to two trends in behavior therapy with children during the preparation of this book. First, we have been concerned with the simple application of behavioral procedures to children, irrespective of developmental con siderations. All too frequently, assessment strategies and treatment pro cedures found to be useful with adults have been applied to children in an indiscriminate fashion. For example, some recent studies have examined and assessed the very same social skill deficits in children as in adults (e. g. , lack of eye contact, delayed latency of response, and absence of positive commendatory responses). Surely, skill deficits differ from age to age just as they differ from situation to situation.

Despite the occasional outcries to the contrary, the field of behavior therapy is still growing, and the asymptote has not been reached yet. The umbrella of behavior therapy continues to enlarge and still is able to encompass new theories, new con cepts, new research, new data, and new clinical techniques. Although the number of new behavioral journals now has stabilized, we still see a proliferation of books on the subject. In the past few years, however, we have seen considerable specialization within behavior therapy. No longer is it possible to be a generalist and remain fully abreast of all the relevant developments. Thus, we see behavior therapists who deal with adults, those who deal with children, those whose specialty is hospital psychiatry, and those who see themselves as practitioners of behavioral medicine. Even within a subarea such as behavioral medicine, specialization runs supreme to the extent that there are experts in the specific addictions, adult medical problems, and child medical problems. Given the extent of specialization, there are numerous ways "to skin" the pro verbial "cat." We therefore have chosen to look at the contemporary work in behavior therapy that is being carried out with adults, in part, of course, because of our long-standing interest in this area as teachers, researchers, and clinicians. In so doing, we have chosen to highlight the clinical aspects of the endeavor but not at the expense of the rich research heritage for each of the specific adult disorders.

In his landmark book, The Time Paradox, internationally known psychologist Philip Zimbardo showed that we can transform the way we think about our past, present, and future to attain greater success in work and in life. Now, in The Time Cure, Zimbardo has teamed with clinicians Richard and Rosemary Sword to reveal a groundbreaking approach that helps those living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to shift their time perspectives and move beyond the traumatic past toward a more positive future. Time Perspective Therapy switches the focus from past to present, from negative to positive, clearing the pathway for the best yet to come: the future. It helps PTSD sufferers pull their feet out of the quicksand of past traumas and step firmly on the solid ground of the present, allowing them to take a step forward into a brighter future. Rather than viewing PTSD as a mental illness the authors see it as a mental injury—a normal reaction to traumatic events—and offer those suffering from PTSD the healing balm of hope. The Time Cure lays out the step-by-step process of Time Perspective Therapy, which has proven effective for a wide range of individuals, from veterans to survivors of abuse, accidents, assault, and neglect. Rooted in psychological research, the book also includes a wealth of vivid and inspiring stories from real-life PTSD sufferers—effective for individuals seeking self-help, their loved ones, therapists and counselors, or anyone who wants to move forward to a brighter future.

Leading experts in the field of behavior therapy review developments in the field and highlight implications for clinical practice. Following a comprehensive overview of behavior therapy by Editor Cyril Franks, each chapter provides an in-depth review of the pertinent literature and a translation of the findings into ramifications for clinical practice and concludes with an overview of the major indicators and contra-indicators for direct application. The practicing clinician will find practical, relevant chapters on obesity, smoking, alcohol abuse, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction.