Week 3

Day 13

The day started at 11 am. We discussed about neurolinguistic programming. Neuro-lingusitic

programming works on the principle of association and dissociation. Submodalities must be
increased for positive experiences and reduced for negative experiences. Anchoring refers to
conditioned key response which can bring yourself to a desired state on cue.

There are various perceptual strategies or representational systems that an individual adheres to:

1. Visual
 Straight eye contact, peripheral eye contact
 Processor words: see, look, understand, prospectus, design, picture, capture,
imagine, find yourself, flash, paint, draw, large, big, huge, fat, small, lengthy,
distant, far, close
 Always tension in body language, breathing is fast paced, shallow voice, fast rate
 Use pointing gestures

2. Auditory
 Shifty eyes, left lateral, left down, right lateral
 Hand will come to the chin or hand on face, head tilted, nod tilting wise breathing
from the mid of the chest
 Speech is rhythmic, resonant voices
 Gestures: extend their hands, ambiverts
 Talk within themselves
 Not reactive but proactive
 Processor words: hear, listen, talk, speak, say, think, rhythm, pitch, vibration,
peace, calmness, balance, buzz, auditory, imagery, silence, tranquil, jarring,
soothing, pleasant

3. Kinesthetic
 Look down, process information and then look up, reaction time is increased,
learning problems, highly emotional
  Walk very slowly, when they sit they look like they are sleeping
 Slow, low and deep breathing
 Voice comes slow, takes a lot of pauses
 Processor words: feel, texture, grip, touch, tough, hard, smooth, rough, difficult,
easy, broken, breaking, thomping, hitting, nailing, blast, handle, boils, spiral,
escalation, temperature

We can create quick impact therapy using NLP techniques and identifying patient.

A. Association- Dissociation Anchoring

B. Chaining Anchors
C. Changing the personal history
D. One Association Anchor, One Dissociation Anchor, On Resource Anchor
E. Multiple Accessing Anchor

After learning all these techniques, Dr. Srikanth assigned me the homework to read about
Behavior Therapy and ended the session for the day.

Homework: 12/06/23

Behavioral therapy encompasses a wide range of techniques aimed at modifying maladaptive

behaviors. Its core objective is to reinforce desirable behaviors while eliminating unwanted ones.
This approach, rooted in behaviorism, a school of thought emphasizing environmental learning,
emerged in the early 20th century and has since played a prominent role in the field. Edward
Thorndike was one of the pioneers in advocating behavior modification.

Unlike insight-based therapies like psychoanalysis and humanistic therapies, behavioral therapy
is action-oriented. It maintains a strong focus on addressing the problematic behavior itself and
aims to teach individuals new behaviors that minimize or eliminate the issue at hand.

Types of Behavioral Therapy: There are several types of behavioral therapy, each employed
based on various factors such as the specific condition being treated and the severity of
symptoms. Some common types include:
 A. Applied behavior analysis: This technique utilizes operant conditioning to shape and
modify problematic behaviors.
B. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT incorporates behavioral techniques while also
focusing on the cognitive aspect, addressing the thoughts underlying behaviors.
C. Cognitive behavioral play therapy: This form of therapy employs play to assess, prevent,
or treat psychosocial challenges, helping children learn new ways of thinking and
behaving.
D. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT): DBT combines both behavioral and cognitive
techniques to assist individuals in managing emotions, coping with distress, and
improving interpersonal relationships.
E. Exposure therapy: This approach employs behavioral techniques to help individuals
overcome their fears by gradually exposing them to the source of their anxiety while
practicing relaxation strategies. It is particularly effective in treating specific phobias and
anxiety disorders.
F. Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT): REBT focuses on identifying negative or
destructive thoughts and feelings, actively challenging them, and replacing them with
more rational and realistic ones.
G. Social learning theory: This theory centers on learning through observation, where
individuals acquire new behaviors by observing others being rewarded or punished for
their actions.
H. Behavioral Therapy Techniques: To understand how behavioral therapy works, it is
essential to familiarize oneself with the basic principles that underpin this therapeutic
approach. The techniques employed are rooted in classical and operant conditioning
theories.

Classical Conditioning: Classical conditioning involves forming associations between stimuli.

Neutral stimuli are paired with a stimulus that naturally evokes a response. Over time, the neutral
stimulus alone can elicit the response.

Behavioral therapy utilizes various techniques based on classical conditioning principles:

 A. Aversion therapy: Undesirable behaviors are paired with aversive stimuli, aiming to
reduce the unwanted behavior. For example, someone with an alcohol use disorder may
take a drug that causes severe symptoms when combined with alcohol.
B. Flooding: This technique exposes individuals to fear-inducing objects or situations
intensively and rapidly, often used in the treatment of phobias.
C. Systematic desensitization: People create a hierarchy of fears and gradually confront
them while learning to relax, starting with the least fear-inducing item and progressing to
more challenging ones. This technique is commonly used to address phobias and anxiety
disorders.

Operant Conditioning: Operant conditioning focuses on using reinforcement and punishment to

increase or decrease the frequency of a behavior. Behaviors followed by desirable consequences
are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by negative consequences become less
likely to occur.

Behavioral therapy techniques based on operant conditioning include:

A. Contingency management: This technique employs a written contract between a client

and a therapist, specifying behavior-change goals, reinforcements, rewards, and penalties.
Clear rules and accountability make this method effective in producing behavior changes.
B. Extinction: This technique involves stopping the reinforcement of a behavior to eliminate
the response. For instance, time-outs remove individuals from situations that provide
reinforcement, gradually extinguishing unwanted behavior.
C. Behavior modeling: Learning occurs through observation and imitation of others'
behavior. Modeling allows individuals to acquire new skills and acceptable behaviors by
observing desired actions.
D. Token economies: This strategy relies on reinforcement to modify behavior. Tokens are
earned for engaging in preferred behaviors and can be exchanged for rewards, such as
toys or privileges.

Applications of Behavioral Therapy: Behavioral therapy can effectively treat a wide range of
psychological conditions and disorders, including:

 Bipolar disorder
  Alcohol and substance use disorders
 Anxiety disorders
 Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
 Autism spectrum disorders
 Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
 Depression
 Eating disorders
 Panic disorder
 Phobias
 Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Moreover, behavioral therapy is valuable for addressing specific psychological concerns such as
anger management and stress management.

Benefits of Behavioral Therapy: Behavioral therapy is widely used and has been proven
effective in treating various conditions. Cognitive behavioral therapy, in particular, is often
considered the "gold standard" for many disorders. Additionally, CBT is often more affordable
than other forms of therapy, and positive results are often observed in a relatively short period. It
helps with anger issues, anxiety, bulimia, depression, somatic symptom disorder, stress,
substance abuse, and relapse prevention. It aids in communication, coping strategies, healthier
thought patterns, and self-esteem.

Effectiveness: The effectiveness of behavioral therapy depends on the specific treatment and the
condition being addressed. Research shows that approximately 67% of individuals who undergo
psychotherapy experience some form of positive improvement. While behavioral therapy,
especially CBT, is effective in treating anxiety disorders, it can vary in its effectiveness for
substance use disorders depending on the substance involved. It has shown beneficial effects on
certain symptoms of schizophrenia but may not significantly impact relapse and hospital
admissions compared to other treatment modalities.

Considerations: While behavioral therapy offers numerous advantages, it may not be suitable
for every situation. For complex mental health conditions, behavioral therapy is often used in
conjunction with other medical and therapeutic treatments, rather than as a standalone solution. It
may not fully address underlying factors contributing to mental health problems. It may not
account for the influence of situations and interpersonal relationships on a person's problems.

Day 14

The day began at 11 am. We started by discussing behavior therapy and Dr. Srikanth elaborated
on the various techniques involved. Then we went ahead to learn Thematic Apperception Test. It
is a diagnostic and projective test and even therapy in some cases. It is used to access the
structure of personality where hidden conflicts, motives, unconscious drives and defense
mechanisms are uncovered.

The rationale behind TAT is:

A. The content and plot analysis (thema)

B. Hero and what he’s talking about
C. Need and press
a. Need for love
b. Need for nurturance
c. Need for achievement
d. Need for autonomy
e. Need for affiliation
D. Defense mechanisms and dominant emotions
a. Wishful thinking
b. Undoing
c. Denial
d. Reaction formation

Dr. Srikanth then administered the test to me and we learnt the interpretation of TAT. After that
we ended the session for the day.

Day 15

The day started at 11 am. Dr. Srikanth taught the extended version of Jacobson’s Progressive
Muscle Relaxation technique. This is a 25 step procedure. Dr. Srikanth administered all the steps
on me and later we discussed all the steps. Then we spoke about CBT and ACT and the various
waves of therapy that have emerged in the field of Psychology. We talked about Systematic
Desensitization and the principle of reciprocal inhibition behind it. The steps behind devising the
treatment of a phobia. When we finished the discussion, Dr. Srikanth ended the day.

Day 16

The day began at 11 am. Dr. Srikanth spoke about hypnotism. The basic principles behind
hypnotism are:

i. Sensory Thought
ii. Physical Thought
iii. Feedback
iv. Utilization

Hypnotizability encompasses confidence, communication, congruence, works on susceptibility,

suggestibility, absorption and dissociation. The various techniques that I learnt are:

1. Fascination method
2. Confusion Technique
3. Hand Press induction
4. Eye Catalepsy to trance
5. Hand to face hypnosis

After all these techniques we ended the day slightly early.

Day 17

We started the day at 11 am. The agenda was to go through a already worked out case. Dr.
Srikanth dictated the Case History and MSE of the patient. After the details were given, we had
to look at ICD-10 and figure out the correct diagnosis. We concluded on undifferentiated
schizophrenia since the symptoms matched. After that we ended the day.