Behavioral Activation

Jonathan W. Kanter is Assistant Professor and Clinic Coordinator at the Department of Psychology, and a Research Scholar at the Center for Addictions and Behavioral Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Andrew M. Busch is currently a pre-doctoral intern at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and a researcher in the Psychosocial Research Program at Butler Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. Laura C. Rusch is an advanced graduate student at the Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Part I: The Distinctive Theoretical Features of Behavioral Activation. A Distinctive History. A Distinct Definition of Human Behavior. Distinct Terminology. A Distinct Philosophy and Theory. The Distinct Behavioral ABC Model. The Ubiquity of Positive Reinforcement. The Meaning of Life. Depression and Positive Reinforcement. The Ubiquity of Negative Reinforcement. The Role of Punishment. An (Almost) Complete Behavioral Model of Depression. The Role of Cognition. The Role of Insight. Activation and Acceptance. Part II: The Distinctive Practical Features of Behavioral Activation. A Distinct Structure. The Initial Treatment Rationale. Activity Monitoring. Values Assessment. Simple Activation. The Importance of Homework. Functional Assessment. Post-it Notes and Other Stimulus Control Procedures. Skills Training. Contingency Management. Mindful Valued Activation. Ending Therapy. Thinking Functionally about Suicide and Medication. The Therapeutic Relationship in BA. A Distinct Flexible Framework: Adaptations for Minorities. The Promise of BA.