ABSTRACT
Learning theories that are basic to the therapeutic group approaches are counter conditioning, behavior modification, and cognitive-behavioral theory. Cognitive theories of behavioral change have been least well accepted and the most controversial among the behavioral scientists. Often the behaviorist interested in cognitive approaches borrowed theory developed outside the behavioral tradition, primarily from Albert Ellis, since theirs was the least well-developed theory. Albert Ellis was founder of Rational Emotive Therapy (RET). RET employs cognitive, emotional, and behavioral approaches for treatment. Identification of a very specific problem or goal is essential to working with groups based primarily on conditioned or operant behaviors. A form of group therapy that is often associated with behavioral therapy groups is behavior modification. Two basic recommendations for a children's group are that the group be heterogeneous in behavioral attributes and homogeneous in developmental age. The multimethod approach of behavioral group therapy was basically developed by a social worker Sheldon D. Rose.
