Behavioral, Feminist, and Family Theories

1
Behavioral, Feminist, and Family Theories
Goals, Limitations, and Applications

• Catherine Pritchard
• Salem College

2
Theories of Comparison

• Behaviorism/
• Behavioral Therapy
• Cognitive-Behavioral
• Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
• Dialectical Behavior Theory

• Feminist Theory
• Family Theory

3
Behaviorism

• Attempts to understand how the client
  experiences the world and determine the behaviors
  that will be the target for therapeutic change
  (Rochlen, 2007, p.148)
• Change a Clients Behavior (Capuzzi Gross,
  2011)
• Find Control over Behavior (Capuzzi Gross,
  2011)
• Connect Emotions to Behavior (Capuzzi Gross,
  2011)
• Use short term goals to achieve long term goals
  (Rochlen, 2007)
• Increase quality of life through helping a client
  learn to experience their emotions and solve
  problems with changes in behavior (Capuzzi
  Gross, 2011)

4
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• A combination of behavioral and cognitive
  theories that works to change both thoughts and
  behaviors in the therapeutic setting. (Capuzzi
  Gross, 2011).
• Goals as outlined by Capuzzi Gross (2011).
• Assess presenting problem through behavioral,
  cognitive, affective, and social perspectives
• Examine environmental factors that support
  clients thoughts and behaviors
• Plan with client in measuring progress
• Determine which interventions are appropriate and
  effective

5
Rational Emotive and Dialectical Behavior
Theories/Therapies

• Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)
  created by Albert Ellis
• Utilizes cognitive, emotive, and behavioral
  interventions to challenge irrational thoughts
  (Capuzzi Gross, 2011)
• Reducing Emotional Disturbance (Rochlen, 2007)
• Humanistic Approach that serves to Empower
  Clients
• Helps clients identify activating events, belief
  systems, and consequences that occur (Rochlen,
  2007)

• Dialectical Behavior Theory created by Marsha M.
  Linehan
• Primarily utilized in the treatment of Borderline
  Personality Disorder (BPD)
• Capuzzi Gross (2011) Outline Goals of DBT
• Validates clients experiences
• Organizes treatment into specific, rigid goals
  and timelines Moves clients from out of control
  to into control of their behavior
• Reduces and/or eliminates harmful behaviors
• Provides new skill set to clients

6
Feminist Theory

• Considers the client within a larger social
  context (Rochlen, 2007)
• Goals as outlined by Capuzzi Gross (2011)
• Emerged during the civil rights/feminist
  movement during the 1960s
• Promotes change, equality, balancing
  independence and interdependence, empowerment,
  self-nurturance, and valuing diversity (p. 328)
• Acknowledges patriarchy as one of the oppressive
  external forces which is the root of problems for
  those who are marginalized
• Began with a focus on gender issues and
  transformed into a theory that encompasses
  equality for all people

7
Family Theory/Therapy

• Rochlen (2007) addresses the following goals of
  family therapy
• Acknowledges the individual is part of a larger
  family system Bowen theory focuses on personal
  identity and relationships, using constructs of
  differentiation, multigenerational transmission,
  and triangulation
• Major goal is differentiation of the client in
  the family
• Can work short term to reduce chaos, solve
  immediate stressors
• Family therapy aims to change the whole family
  system rather than only an individual (Capuzzi
  Gross, 2011)

8
Limitations

• Behaviorists
• REBT associations with founder A. Ellis have
  limited applications of the theory
• Strict behaviorist methods are often unethical by
  modern standards
• DBT has been proven efficacious only with BPD in
  limited research/limited trained professionals
• CBT is limited by the combination of the two
  theories
• Client resistance or reluctance may not allow for
  change with any of these theories

• Family and Feminists
• Limited access to services
• Rely on larger systems to achieve change
• Limitations to cross-cultural applicability/
  Failure to consider socialization differences of
  genders and varying ethnicities
• Potential Maleficence
• Feminist Theory has limited techniques and
  training is viewed as political rather than
  therapeutic

9
Strengths and Values

• Behaviorists
• CBT is applicable cross-culturally and with
  multiple mental health issues
• The behaviorist model is well evidenced and has
  transformed into a universally efficacious model
• DBT has been able to treat BPD, a debilitating
  disorder while validating clients experiences
• REBT can be applied short term, cross-culturally,
  and with multiple diagnoses

• Family and Feminists
• Both theories expand beyond medical, pathological
  models
• Family theory strengthens and treats more than
  one individual
• Feminism seeks social justice and equality for
  subjugated clients
• Both are applicable with many mental health
  issues
• Both require longer term commitments to be
  effective

10
In Summary

• Behaviorists, Feminists, and Family theories
  have contributed a meaningful breadth to the
  field of counseling. From the individual focus of
  the behaviorist movement to the outward view of
  the individual through social and family
  contexts, much of the therapeutic work done today
  incorporates tenets of each of these theories.
  Despite some limitations within each theory, they
  remain influential, effective, and encourage
  providers to grow, increasing focus on the
  clients needs and well-being.

11
References

• Bordeau, W.C., Briggs, M.K., Staton, A.R.,
  Wasik, S.Z. (2008). Feminism lives on
  Incorporating contemporary feminism into
  counseling practice with families and youth.
  Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and
  Development, 47, 42-55.
• Capuzzi, D. Gross, D.R. (5th Ed.).  (2011).
  Counseling and psychotherapy Theories and
  interventions. Alexandria, VA American
  Counseling Association.
• Crethar, H.C., Torres Rivera, E., Nash, S.
  (2008). In search of common threads Linking
  multicultural, feminist, and social justice
  counseling paradigms. Journal of Counseling
  Development, 86, 269-278.
• Datti, P. A. (2009). Applying social learning
  theory of career decision making to gay, lesbian,
  bisexual, transgender, and questioning young
  adults. The Career Development Quarterly, 58,
  54-64.

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• Grey, E. (2010). Use your brain A
  neurologically driven application of REBT with
  children. Journal of Creativity in Mental
  Health, 5, 5564.
• Newman, M.G., Castonguay, L.G., Borkovec, T.D.,
  Fisher, A.J., Boswell, J.F., Szkodny, L.E.,
  Nordberg, S.S. (2011). A randomized controlled
  trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy for
  generalized anxiety disorder with integrated
  techniques from emotion-focused and interpersonal
  therapies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical
  Psychology, 79, 171181. doi 10.1037/a0022489
• Olin, S.S., Hoagwood, K.E., Rodriguez, J.,
  Ramos, B., Burton, G., Penn, M., Crowe, M.,
  Radigan, M., Jensen, P.S. (2010). The
  application of behavior change theory to
  family-based services Improving parent
  empowerment in childrens mental health.
  Journal of Child and Family Studies, 19,
  462- 470. doi 10.1007/s10826-009-9317-3
• Rochlen A.B. (2007). Applying counseling
  theories An online, case-based approach. Upper
  Saddle River, NJ Pearson Education, Inc.