Behavioural therapy

When you are struggling with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depression or anger, behavioural therapy is a very effective way of overcoming them. At my private practice in Hannover City, I offer behavioural therapy alongside systemic therapy and trauma therapy.

Behavioural therapy is based on a number of concepts from learning theory. These are described chiefly as the principles of so-called respondent, operant and social learning. In the therapeutic process, the aim is to recognise the conditions that are responsible for the acquisition and the modification of behaviour.

The assumption is that emotional problems or conspicuous behaviour can arise from learned disruptive behaviours or from skills that were never acquired. Learning with the help of rewards and consequences, as well as through imitation, therefore has an influence on learning processes.

In addition, factors such as expectations, ideas about oneself and about the world around us, or the contents of perception and memory, are responsible for human behaviour.

Every behaviour can therefore be learned, maintained and also unlearned again according to the same principles. By behaviour we mean not only a person’s outwardly visible activities, but also inner processes such as feelings, thinking and bodily processes. It is through our environment, and through engaging with it, that learning and adaptation take place. When we are able to respond to these psychological and physical demands flexibly, with due regard for our own needs and on our own responsibility, we feel good.

Behavioural therapy is suitable for treating the following problems or mental health conditions:

• Anxiety disorders, panic disorders, phobias, generalised anxiety, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorders, fear of failure
• Problems at work: burnout, stress, exhaustion syndrome, feeling overwhelmed, coping with stress, difficulty concentrating, bullying
• Depression, grief, annoyance, anger, jealousy, emotional hurt and emotional injury
• sexual problems: loss of desire, erectile dysfunction, orgasmic disorders
• Relationship problems: heartbreak, separation, divorce
• Sleep disorders
• psychosomatic complaints
• Eating disorders: bulimia, anorexia, obesity
• Addiction problems: gambling addiction, sex addiction, work addiction (my practice does not treat substance-related addictions)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorders, checking compulsions, washing compulsions, cleaning compulsions etc., tormenting thoughts (obsessive thoughts)

As a rule, cognitive behavioural therapy is a short-term therapy of 10 to 30 sessions. If the problem has been present for some time, more sessions may be necessary.

I gained the “Fachqualifikation Verhaltenstherapie für Kinder- Jugendliche und Erwachsene” (specialist qualification in behavioural therapy for children, adolescents and adults) with Dr H. Gutsche at the Paracelsusschule Hannover.

To arrange an appointment for behavioural therapy in Hannover City, please go to the Appointments menu item. There you can either send an email enquiry or select an appointment at my private practice directly.