What is Behavioural Activation?
Behavioural activation (BA) is a brief psychological intervention that aims to increase engagement in positive and fulfilling activities to improve mental health, quality of life and well-being. This intervention is often used to treat depression, anxiety, pain and other specific mental health disorders such as BDD and OCD.
BA helps individuals to identify and participate in specific activities that are enjoyable, important and/or meaningful. The focus is on increasing positive meaningful experiences and reducing negative, devaluing ones that hinder mood and personal growth.
Effective for disorders and personal growth
BA effectively treats feelings of low mood and self-esteem and low self-confidence by addressing loss of interest and pleasure in activities that once created elevated mood. This evidence-based intervention helps individuals to increase their activity level, which also increases their sense of accomplishment, self-esteem, and confidence. BA helps individuals to overcome anxiety by reducing avoidance behaviours and develop strategies to cope with anxiety-provoking situations.
BA promotes personal growth by helping individuals to overcome resistance to behavioural change (such as procrastination) and create new ways of coping with challenges. This can lead to improved self-awareness and self-esteem, as well as increased ability to handle stress and anxiety.
How BA is utilised in therapy
In therapy there is a collaborative approach between the individual and Psychotherapist to identify activities that the individual enjoys or finds meaningful. Identifying values which are important and meaningful to the individual is a fundamental part of BA. Value driven goals are created and a plan of action to participate in such activities are created. Possible barriers are identified and challenged as part of the therapy process. BA treatment can be accessed online and in-person, please make contact by clicking here.
This psychological model of behaviour change, allows an individual ultimately to do more of what makes their life fulfilling, which improves quality of life and all they are connected to (career, relationships, health)
Contact
To schedule an assessment with an experienced BA Psychotherapist (London based, offering in-person at home treatment or online) please click here. You can also send enquiries via email: info@homebasedtalkingtherapy.com