Behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that teaches how to manage unhealthy behaviors and improve overall mental health. While people often associate it with mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, it can also address health concerns.
At Himalaya Family Medicine Clinic in Aurora, Colorado, the team regularly uses behavioral health, including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and exposure therapy, to help people lead happier, healthier lives.
This article highlights eight conditions that behavioral therapy can help manage.
More than 40 million American adults have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is a natural stress response, but if it occurs regularly, even when there’s no obvious reason for concern, it can affect your mood, outlook, and quality of life.
Behavioral therapy techniques, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can teach you how to tolerate distress, reduce the frequency of panic attacks, and find healthier ways to cope when you feel overwhelmed.
Depression is a persistent feeling of sadness or lack of interest that can last for weeks, months, or longer. Many people with depression withdraw from friends and family or avoid activities they once enjoyed.
Behavioral therapy can help you break this cycle by teaching you how to manage negative thought patterns and providing structured support. It won’t necessarily change things overnight, but it can make coping easier.
OCD is characterized by obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors that interfere with daily life and relationships.
We often recommend behavioral therapy, particularly exposure and response prevention (ERP), for people with OCD because it has a proven track record. One study found that 65%-75% of patients with OCD who underwent behavioral therapy reported symptom improvement.
This approach exposes you to triggers in a safe environment, allowing you to face them head-on and respond in healthier ways.
PTSD is a mental health condition that may occur after you experience a traumatic or terrifying event, such as military combat, a severe car accident, or a natural disaster.
Behavioral therapy provides tools and techniques to help reduce the frequency and intensity of flashbacks and ease panic attacks. It can also teach you how to cope with these feelings in healthy, productive ways.
ADHD is a mental health condition that makes it hard to focus, sit still, or stay on task. It’s commonly associated with children and teens, but it also affects millions of adults.
ADHD is a lifelong condition, but behavioral therapy can help you or your child better manage its symptoms. Through structured routines and positive reinforcement, this approach helps reduce impulsivity and improve day-to-day functioning.
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder. Trouble falling or staying asleep can make you miserable, and medications aren’t right for everyone.
Behavioral therapy addresses the anxiety that many people with insomnia associate with their bedroom and nighttime in general. It also helps you establish a healthy bedtime routine and introduces relaxation techniques that support falling and staying asleep all night long.
Eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, often correlate with low self-esteem or unrealistic beauty standards. Behavioral therapy offers a way to change those thinking patterns and address the underlying thoughts responsible for disordered eating.
SUDs often develop as ways to avoid negative memories, thoughts, or day-to-day stress. Substances such as alcohol, illicit drugs, or prescription drugs may temporarily mask emotional discomfort, but they don’t address the underlying causes.
Behavioral therapy offers a healthier alternative, helping you develop coping strategies that don’t rely on drugs or alcohol. It focuses on changing your thought patterns and emotions in a structured and supportive way.
Whether you’re struggling with insomnia or want to get your anxiety under control, behavioral therapy can help. The first step is a comprehensive evaluation. To get started, call us at 303-351-1800 or book your visit online today.
