What approach does behavioral therapy take to modify behavior?

Behavioral therapy focuses on the principle that behavior can be learned and unlearned through interactions with the environment. This approach emphasizes the identification of specific problem behaviors and aims to replace them with more appropriate or desired behaviors.

In practice, this often involves techniques such as reinforcement, punishment, and modeling, which collectively help reshape an individual's responses to certain stimuli. The goal is to modify maladaptive behaviors by teaching healthier alternatives, providing patients with the tools to manage their behavior effectively. Furthermore, behavioral therapy is evidence-based and often involves measurable objectives, making it a structured and systematic approach to therapy.

The other approaches in the choices, while they may be relevant to different therapeutic modalities, do not align with the core objectives of behavioral therapy. For example, changing thoughts to change behavior is more characteristic of cognitive therapy, while encouraging free association and promoting avoidance of distressing memories relate more closely to psychodynamic therapy.