Which treatment approach uses conditioning to alter client behaviors?

Behavioral therapy is a treatment approach that emphasizes the role of conditioning in altering client behaviors. This therapy is based on the principles of behaviorism, which suggest that all behaviors are learned through interaction with the environment. It employs techniques such as classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and systematic desensitization to help clients modify maladaptive behaviors.

For instance, techniques like positive reinforcement can be used to encourage desired behaviors, while aversive conditioning might be implemented to decrease unwanted behaviors. This structured and goal-oriented approach is focused primarily on observable behaviors rather than on underlying thoughts or emotions, making it distinct in its methodology.

In contrast, cognitive behavioral therapy combines elements of cognitive therapy with behavioral techniques, while humanistic therapy emphasizes individual potential and self-actualization. Psychoanalytic therapy delves into unconscious processes and conflicts, which may not involve the conditioning techniques central to behavioral therapy. Therefore, the specificity of using conditioning to target behaviors confirms that behavioral therapy is the correct answer.