Theory to Practice - Child and Youth Mental Health

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Let's take a closer look at some examples for you consider for this interesting assignment.

RESPONSE:

1. Describe how you incorporate theory into practice in child and youth mental health.

You are asked to use personal examples. Let's look at some examples to consider.

Mather and Goldstein (2001) demonstrated how to incorporate aspects of behaviorism, specifically, behavior modification. This theory and technique "assumes that observable and measurable behaviors are good targets for change." (Mather & Goldstein, 2001, http://www.ldonline.org/article/6030) You could apply behavioral techniques for social and behaviroal change.

For example, applying behavioral modification techniques results in all behavior being "maintained, changed, or shaped by the consequences of that behavior." Limits to this technique include things like "temperamental or emotional influences related to ADHD or depression." Most "children function more effectively under the right set of consequences". To apply this theory to practice, "reinforcers are consequences that strengthen behavior. Punishments are consequences that weaken behavior.' In other words, "[s]tudents' behaviors are managed and changed by the consequences of classroom behavior" (Mather & Goldstein, 2001, http://www.ldonline.org/article/6030).

Practitioners, you in this case, would manage behavior through consequences, using this multi-step process:

1. The problem must be defined, usually by count or description.
2. Design a way to change the behavior.
3. Identify an effective reinforcer.
4. Apply the reinforcer consistently to shape or change behavior (Mather & Goldstein, 2001, http://www.ldonline.org/article/6030)

Based on various theories, including behavioral modification, consequences of behavior are directly related to the events that either come immediately before or after them. The following examples of behavioral outcomes demonstrate how you might apply theory to practice i.e. prevention techniques, correction and control of misbehavior, and treatment focus and techniques. However, more often there is a biopsychosocial approach which incorporate theories and intervention ...