Psychotherapy, today and tomorrow: status quo of behavior and cognitive therapy and its efficacy

This paper reviews the development of behavior therapy, its applications, and the characteristics that make this form of therapy unique and applicable to a wide range of problems. Behavior therapy started from learning theory. It has adopted other theoretical bases and produced numerous techniques as a result of efforts to apply its principles to clinical problems. Recently, cognitive techniques of behavior therapy have been growing. The characteristics of behavior therapy are: (i) problem oriented and practical; (ii) emphasis on real life and living skills; and (iii) concrete viewpoint and techniques. These characteristics enable wide application. Today, many studies show the superior efficacy of behavior therapy for various mental and physical problems. Some well-documented techniques can be performed by non-professionals. The techniques and the viewpoint of behavior therapy would be accepted widely in Pacific Rim countries in the future.