Behavioral experiments in cognitive therapy

Abstract

A core element of cognitive-behavioral therapy is the modification of dysfunctional cognitions. In addition to verbal disputation, active disputation methods - behavioral experiments - are forthcoming. While the latter are well described and operationalized as a therapeutic strategy in the English-speaking area, a transdiagnostic description of planning and conducting behavior experiments lacks for the German-speaking area. With this article, the impact of behavior experiments is delineated theoretically. Its single phases - planning, testing, evaluating, reflecting - are described and distinguished from exposure therapy. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG.