JUSTIFICATION OF THE FEATURES OF PROVIDING PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE TO ADOLESCENTS WITH DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR

Abstract

Since its inception, behavioural psychotherapy has been actively using classical behaviourist ideas. Due to this, it inherited from behavioural psychology the desire for experimental knowledge, while refusing to study mental processes that cannot be directly observed and objectively recorded. The analysis of scientific literature proves the need for a special comprehensive psychological and psychotherapeutic approach to children and adolescents with deviant behavioural patterns. As behavioural psychotherapy is based on behavioural psychology and learning theories, it is a broad enough concept to encompass many different approaches and methods. The history of such methods varies: some, such as conditioned reflexive therapy or systematic desensitisation, are quite old, while others, such as cognitive behavioural psychotherapy, have emerged more recently. The main essence of behavioural psychotherapy is that the psychotherapist, in collaboration with the client (an adolescent with deviant behaviour), explores the causes and nature of the behavioural problems that cause suffering. Then they work together to develop and implement a further plan of action aimed at eliminating such painful behavioural traits or developing new skills necessary for a healthy state. In modern behavioural psychotherapy, the term «behaviour» encompasses not only visible actions and external manifestations, but also the entire range of cognitive (mental) and emotional processes that regulate it. Although the elimination of, for example, fear of strangers or fear of being judged could be called something else, traditionally such work is referred to as «behaviour therapy». Its goal is to help the client overcome internal anxiety so that he or she can communicate freely with strangers and answer questions from more authoritative people.