Psychotherapy is a form of treatment for a patient suffering from a mental disorder. Therapy allows the patient to help them understand their illness. This is then followed by tools to treat their illness and behaviors. (NIMH) One type of psychotherapy is behavior therapy, in which the psychologist uses basic learning techniques to modify maladaptive behavior patterns by replacing unwanted thoughts with new, happier responses. (NIMH) Behavioral therapies are based on classical conditioning theory. The principle is that all behavior is learned, thus creating bad behavior. Therapy allows the patient to stop the behavior or correct the behavior. (Simply Psychology) Behavioral therapy is used for many types of disorders, anxiety or other mental disorders. Specifically, it is used to treat anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The behavior therapy technique is also useful when a psychologist is treating autism, substance abuse, and even eating disorders (healthline). For anxiety disorders, treatment allows the patient to learn that the tools given to them to face their fears will ultimately reduce the anxiety. Behavioral therapies have been considered one of the best treatments for eating disorders because they reduce the risk of relapse in patients with this disorder as well as the symptoms of any other eating disorders that might not not exist. The schizophrenic patient learns a more useful and realistic understanding of events and learns coping techniques when the patient struggles with hallucinations using behavior therapy. The patient also learns about life...... middle of paper ... a period of 12 months. (BBC)Therefore, behavioral therapy can be used to treat multiple disorders, whether it is anxiety or mental disorders. The therapy also has limited side effects related to participating in the therapy. Without Ivan Pavlov and BF Skinner, this therapy would not exist and psychologists would be unable to help patients overcome their bad behaviors and introduce new ones to combat their disorders. Works Cited “Behavioral therapy”. Simply psychology. Saul McLeod. 2010. Internet. April 25, 2014. “Behavioral therapy. » Health Line. Kristeen Cherney. June 4, 2013.Web. April 25, 2014. “Behavioral therapy. » The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. 6th ed. Columbia University Press. 2012. “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.” NHS Choice. Np and Web. April 25, 2014. "Cognitive behavioral therapy 'may reduce depression.' BBC. Nd Web. April 25. 2014.