Technique 15: Behavioral Rehearsal

How is the technique implemented?

 The technique of behavioral rehearsal is carried out by having the client participate in what would be consider typical daily functions in an attempt to decrease the anxiety surrounding these actions.  The counselor in this situation plays the role of the person who the client is anxious about interacting with.  The counselor's goal is to get the client to speak in a strong voice and emphasize the importance of their feelings.  The four major steps of the process are as follows: 1) Prompt client practice of modeled behavior 2) Enhance client motivation 3) Provide feedback 4) Shape behavioral approximations to desire behavior.

What type of situation can the technique be applied to?

 This technique can be used in helping a client deal with an abusive or bullying individual.  When the client is confronted by a situation where they will need to be around an abusive person they can rehearse how they will behave ahead of time in order to be prepared for that interaction.  Another example of application of this technique is when the client must tell someone news and they are afraid of how they will respond. Ex. A teenage girl telling her parents she is pregnant.

What is your opinion of the technique?

I find this technique to be incredibly useful and something I use internally on a consistent basis.  By preparing an individual for a student they feel uncomfortable, you help to ease their nerves going into that situation.  While this technique is not an end-all, cure-all it does limit the anxiety when the client feels confident and is prepared to behave a certain way.