Behavioural Activation Therapy (BA)
Behavioural Activation (BA) is a psychological therapy and is extremely effective treatment for depression. It involves working on patterns of behaviour that have become unhelpful. When you feel depressed or anxious, you may be less likely to do the things you enjoy or avoid other potentially pleasurable activities.
How does behavioural activation work?
BA seeks to increase your daily activity with sources of reward by helping you become more focused and work towards a structured therapy goal. This approach allows you to work cooperatively with the therapist to understand the underlying issues behind your depression. BA exercises will be the staple part of your therapeutic process and will significantly improve your chances of recovery. There is good evidence supporting Behavioural Activation as being helpful for many people with both severe and milder forms of depression, and therefore it is recommended by NICE.
BA sessions will normally last for between 6-12 sessions weekly is preferred but at least every 2 weeks. Sessions time is usually 60 minutes and is structured in nature.
Is online behavioural therapy for me?
It can be a daunting prospect to admit that you have a problem that requires treatment in online behavioural activation. However, we at Click Therapies provide friendly and professional online therapists. Our experienced therapists are ready to connect with you online using face to face video technology from the comfort of your own home in a safe and supportive way.
BA shows good evidence for treating the following:
• Depression
• Adjustment reactions such as prolonged grief
• Stress (work/life)
The overall goal of BA is to increase participation in helpful activities (which more often, are activities associated with experiencing an increase in enjoyment/pleasure or control). BA also seeks to reduce participating in activities that maintain depression or increase the risk for depression occurring.
What you can expect in your online behavioural activation sessions
Your personal therapist will provide you with online structured sessions in which your main problem will be discussed and how this affects you in your daily life. Each session will usually last around 60 minutes and we recommend that these take place ideally on a weekly basis or at least once every 2 weeks.
In your sessions, your therapist will work with you, to help you understand your problems and separate them into manageable parts, such as your thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
You and your therapist will explore these areas together and determine if these are unrealistic or unhelpful, and to understand how they interfere with your daily life.
Your therapist will then be able to help you to explore how to challenge unhelpful thoughts and change unhelpful behaviours. The overall goal of online Behavioural Activation is to help you to use the skills you have learnt during online sessions in your daily life.