The thing with many bahavioral therapies, unless your a very young child, a rat or dog, not only does the effect diminish over time, it doesn't necessarily carry over to other settings. How many times have people walked out of a therapist office feeling motivated yet you get home and some of that feeling disappears. Don't get me wrong, therapy can be very helpful but it takes time and work..
When I worked with students with emotional problems I could do all the charts, positive reinforcemeny, incentives whatever you call them and yet there there were often other factors that often be stronger than the cute little charts. You can help a child build self esreem in the classroom but if you don't change the environment such as home situations where the parents may be barely keeping their heads above water, social situations, not taking medications on a consistent basis for those who need them or , even the classroom atmosphere it can truely is an uphill battle. This doesn't mean you shouldn't try or that it's worthless to work with these students but it does mean it's a lot more complicated than a star on a chart. Sometimes it might be a beginning* but it's only a only a small part of a therapuetic process. Best of all, though sometimes few and far between there can be success and much more often relative progress.
Don't even get me started.about accusing someone that they're doing something for attention. Yes it happens but you have to ask why someone is choosing to seek attention or even if the behavior has that purpose.
I could write a book.
Part Deux
My brother in law is a doctor yet has a fear of needles, maybe not so much a fear of needles but he has been known to pass out after a shot or getting blood drawn. I guess he kind of tenses his body in these situations. Actually, I think that is a fear of needles! However, he is also six four and tall people can have a tendency to do this. Take out the tallness and this sounds familiar, doesn't it?. Though rarely, he has been known to do this when going from a sitting to a standing position but he now prevents this by standing.slowly, yet that rarely happens now.. Yet, fortunately for him, he is healthy and very active. Should we all be so well.
I think I had a point here but can't remember what. I think it had something to do with making SL and LB as well as others I may have left out, feel a bit better.. Otherwise, Ive lost my srring of thought. Maybe I was going to make a cute smiley face chart to clear their fear of needles, right up! Maybe M& Ms.
*When I worked with thirteen to fifteen yeat old students with ED which in a way is an oxymoron, as that is a development stage that can make a parent tear out their hair, I think you could take a cattle prod and it wouldn't necessarily be an incentive to change a behavior. However that is aversion therapy which is very different and frowned upon. Unfortunately, at one time it wasn't.
Oh, do you know giraffes have a short lifespan because of their long necks. Just a random thought.
Sorry for the rant. I miss my job. I may go and have a therapeutic cry and eat some M&Ms