Find a Behavioral Therapist

Medically reviewed by Gabriela Asturias, MD on June 24, 2024
Written by the MiResource team

Finding the right behavioral therapist can be a powerful step toward meaningful change. Behavioral therapy provides practical, goal-oriented treatment that focuses directly on modifying behaviors and building healthy, lasting habits.

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  • Agnieszka Kothuiki, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

    Agnieszka Kothuiki

    Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Clinical Social Worker (CSW), Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW), Certified Social Worker (CSW), Community Resource, Counselor

    12200 West 106th Street, Overland Park, Kansas 66215

    Agnieszka Kothuiki is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Overland Park, Kansas and has been in practice for 26 years. They treat Suicidal Ideation, Academic Concerns, Substance Use.

    How Many Time Zones Are There in the US? There are 9 time zones by law in the USA and its dependencies. However, adding the time zones of 2 uninhabited US

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What Is Behavioral Therapy?

At its core, behavioral therapy is built on the principle that behavior is learned and shaped by environmental factors, reinforcement, and consequences. The roots of this approach go back to early behaviorists like B.F. Skinner and Ivan Pavlov, whose work demonstrated how conditioning shapes human and animal behavior.

Behavioral therapists analyze behavior through observable actions and measurable outcomes. The focus is on helping clients develop actionable skills, rather than solely discussing their emotions or beliefs. Positive reinforcement, exposure therapy, desensitization, modeling, extinction, and skill-building exercises are just some of the techniques used by behavioral therapists to foster change.

In many cases, behavior therapy for anxiety or behavior therapy for depression may involve breaking problematic behaviors into smaller parts, setting clear goals, and practicing new coping strategies with the guidance of a trained behavioral psychologist or behavioral therapist.

What Conditions Can Behavioral Therapy Help With?

Behavioral therapy is extremely versatile, making it useful for addressing a wide range of conditions across the lifespan. Some of the many issues that can be treated effectively with behavioral health therapy include:

  • Anxiety Disorders: Including social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and phobias.
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Helping individuals reduce obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
  • ADHD and Executive Functioning Challenges: Teaching organization, time management, impulse control, and focus.
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Behavioral therapy supports individuals with ASD in building communication, social, and adaptive living skills.
  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorders: Providing structure and strategies for managing defiant, disruptive, or aggressive behaviors.
  • Tics and Tourette Syndrome: Behavior therapy, including habit reversal training, helps manage involuntary tics.
  • Anger Management Problems: Teaching emotional regulation, problem-solving, and communication skills.
  • Substance Use Behaviors: Supporting clients in modifying addictive behaviors and building healthier coping mechanisms.
  • Habit Behaviors: Addressing repetitive behaviors such as nail biting, skin picking, hair pulling (trichotillomania), or other body-focused repetitive behaviors.
  • Parent-Child Relational Issues: Teaching parents effective strategies to manage challenging behaviors and improve communication.

A behavioral therapist can customize interventions based on the specific diagnosis and personal circumstances of each client, providing targeted support where it’s needed most.

What Techniques Are Used in Behavioral Therapy?

Behavioral health therapy includes a variety of proven techniques designed to change problematic behaviors while teaching healthier alternatives. Some of the most commonly used behavioral therapy methods include:

  • Positive Reinforcement: Using rewards to encourage desirable behaviors (e.g., token economies, point systems, praise).
  • Negative Reinforcement and Extinction: Reducing unwanted behaviors by removing reinforcement or ignoring certain behaviors over time.
  • Modeling and Role-Play: Teaching clients how to navigate social situations, practice new skills, or rehearse desired behaviors in a safe setting.
  • Exposure Therapy: Gradual, controlled exposure to feared situations or stimuli to reduce anxiety and avoidance behaviors.
  • Behavioral Activation: Increasing engagement in positive, rewarding activities to counteract depression or low motivation.
  • Habit Reversal Training: A structured approach used for tics, trichotillomania, and other repetitive behaviors.
  • Parent Management Training: Teaching parents effective behavior modification techniques to help manage child behavioral issues at home.

A skilled behavioral therapist selects the techniques most appropriate for the client’s needs, tailoring behavioral therapy programs to maximize success.

Who Provides Behavioral Therapy?

Behavioral therapy can be delivered by a range of trained mental health professionals, depending on the client’s needs and the type of behavior being addressed. Common providers of behavioral health therapy include:

  • Behavioral Psychologists: Licensed psychologists with specialized training in behavior modification and therapy techniques.
  • Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) and Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs): Mental health clinicians trained in behavioral therapy strategies.
  • Child Behavioral Therapists: Specialists focused on addressing the unique developmental and behavioral challenges children face.
  • Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs): Experts who often work with individuals diagnosed with autism or other developmental disorders requiring intensive behavioral programs.
  • Pediatric Behavioral Therapists: Providers who focus on addressing behavioral issues that arise during early childhood or school years.

Selecting the right behavioral therapist ensures that therapy is tailored to both the client’s developmental stage and the nature of the presenting issues.

When Should I Consider Behavioral Therapy?

Behavioral therapy may be appropriate anytime persistent behavior patterns begin to negatively impact daily life, relationships, or emotional well-being. You may want to explore behavioral therapy if you or your child experience:

  • Ongoing behavioral problems at school, work, or home.
  • Repetitive habits or compulsions that feel uncontrollable.
  • Difficulty following through with tasks or complying with rules and expectations.
  • Frequent emotional outbursts, meltdowns, or intense frustration.
  • Avoidance of situations or tasks that limit functioning or independence.

Seeking early intervention from a behavioral therapist can prevent these patterns from becoming more deeply ingrained and lead to faster, more effective treatment.

How Is Behavioral Therapy Different From Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

While behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy share similarities, they differ in their areas of focus:

  • Behavioral Therapy: Concentrates solely on observable behaviors and their consequences. The primary goal is to change actions and habits directly.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Combines behavioral strategies with cognitive interventions, helping clients modify both behaviors and the underlying thoughts or beliefs that drive them.

Many modern therapists blend behavioral therapy with cognitive approaches to offer a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment plan tailored to each client’s needs.

What Happens in Behavioral Therapy Sessions?

Behavioral therapy sessions are highly structured and collaborative. The process generally includes:

  • Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA): The behavioral therapist identifies the triggers, reinforcers, and patterns contributing to the problem behavior.
  • Identifying Target Behaviors: Clear, specific behaviors are selected as the focus for intervention.
  • Goal Setting: Measurable, achievable treatment goals are established to guide therapy.
  • Teaching Replacement Behaviors: Clients learn healthier behaviors to replace problematic ones.
  • Reinforcement and Homework: Practice outside of sessions is emphasized to reinforce new skills and promote lasting change.
  • Parental or Family Involvement: For children and teens, family participation is often crucial to help reinforce therapy goals and create consistency across environments.

Behavioral therapy empowers clients to actively participate in their treatment and see measurable progress over time.

How Long Does Behavioral Therapy Usually Take?

The duration of behavioral health therapy varies depending on the complexity of the behaviors being addressed and the individual’s progress. In many cases:

  • Short-Term Programs: Behavioral therapy may last 10 to 20 sessions for mild to moderate issues.
  • Longer-Term Therapy: More entrenched or complex behaviors may require extended treatment over several months or longer.
  • Ongoing Monitoring: Behavior tracking allows therapists to regularly evaluate progress and adjust treatment plans as needed.

Unlike many long-term therapies, behavioral therapy is often goal-oriented with a clear focus on achieving specific, observable improvements.

Can Behavioral Therapy Be Done Online?

Yes, behavioral therapy has adapted well to online and teletherapy formats. Many behavioral therapists now offer:

  • Virtual Parent Coaching: Helping parents manage child behaviors in real-time at home.
  • Remote Behavioral Activation Programs: Supporting clients with depression by increasing daily engagement in pleasurable activities.
  • Exposure Therapy via Telehealth: Conducting anxiety exposures and gradual desensitization exercises with therapist guidance.
  • Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety: Many clients successfully participate in behavior therapy for anxiety using secure online video platforms.

While some child-centered interventions may still require in-person sessions, many aspects of behavioral therapy for adults and families are highly effective when delivered online.

How Can Parents or Caregivers Support Behavioral Therapy at Home?

Parents and caregivers play a vital role in reinforcing skills and strategies learned in behavioral therapy. Supportive steps include:

  • Consistently applying behavioral strategies at home.
  • Creating structured routines and predictable expectations.
  • Collaborating regularly with the behavioral therapist.
  • Participating in parent coaching or joint therapy sessions.
  • Providing positive reinforcement for progress and effort.

When parents partner actively with the behavioral therapist, children often experience faster progress and long-lasting behavioral improvements.

Are There Other Therapies Often Combined With Behavioral Therapy?

Behavioral therapy often works best as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that may include:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Combining behavioral change with cognitive restructuring.
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Especially helpful for emotional regulation, impulse control, and interpersonal difficulties.
  • Family Therapy: Improving communication and reducing family stress related to behavioral issues.
  • ABA Therapy: Particularly for individuals with autism or severe behavior disorders.
  • Medication Management: In coordination with a physician or psychiatrist.
  • Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Teaching calming skills to supplement behavior management strategies.

By blending these therapies, behavioral health therapy provides a truly personalized, effective approach for complex behavioral and emotional challenges.

Behavioral therapy empowers clients with practical, evidence-based tools to modify problem behaviors and build healthier habits. A skilled behavioral therapist can customize interventions for children, teens, and adults, helping them overcome obstacles and achieve meaningful, lasting change. Taking the first step toward behavioral therapy opens the door to real progress, improved functioning, and a better quality of life for individuals and their families.

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Remember, recovery is possible. With early intervention, a supportive network, and the right professional care, you can overcome the challenges of Behavior Therapy and build a fulfilling life. We are here to help you find care.

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