ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the different behavioral approaches to psychotherapy. From a behavioral perspective, cognitive restructuring deals largely with rule-governed behavior. From a behavioral point of view, mindfulness involves nonjudgmental awareness, observation, and description of one’s covert or overt behaviors as they occur and, in some cases, observation of the antecedents and consequences of those behaviors. Although cognitive restructuring and mindfulness and acceptance procedures are often said to be directed toward modifying thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes, their distinguishing characteristic seems to be that they deal with private verbal behavior and imagery and feelings as well as with public behavior. Providing instructions to oneself is a form of the first type of self-regulation and has therefore been a focus of some cognitive behavior therapists. Meichenbaum and Goodman initially developed self-instructional training to help children control impulsive behavior. This chapter also discusses Ellis’s Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Beck’s cognitive therapy, and all the other therapeutic methods.
