Behaviour therapy focuses on modifying or changing your child’s maladaptive or problematic behaviour. As behaviours are learned, we assist parents and carers, by providing a better understanding of why behaviours of concerns are occurring.
The goal of therapy is to identify the problematic behaviours and help parents and carers to understand the environmental and internal factors that maintain or reinforce these behaviours.
Observations of your child’s behaviour is conducted in the natural setting i.e. your family home; daycare or school environment to gain more insight into your child’s behaviour.
Behaviour therapy is a structured and goal-oriented approach to therapy that typically involves short-term treatment. Treatment techniques may include cognitive-behavioural therapy, exposure therapy, systematic desensitisation, aversion therapy, and operant conditioning.
A variety of tools are used such as behaviour charts, visual boards, social stories, key word signs and play skills to design a tailored program to your child’s individual needs.
The behaviour therapist will teach you how to create an environment that reduces the likelihood of these behaviours occurring and also develop a behaviour support plan that outlines a consistent way to respond to these behaviours. Multiple assessments and observations are conducted, and the behaviour therapist will assist in implementing household routines and mentor parents/carers to reinforce sustainable changes.
