CONSELLING PSYCHOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION IN FAMILY LIFE

Problem Identification and Definition
Psychologists are found to be relevant in mental homes, in rehabilitation centers and in the treatment of drug addictions. A counsellor who works in a controlled setting such as a clinic or an office where he counsels his clients is into behaviour modification. He uses the behaviour modification techniques, which require the scientific application of the principles of learning.
Below is the report of a case of behaviour problem which was resolved by the writer through the knowledge of behaviour modification technique.
Mrs. Kate has a husband whom she has tried as much as possible please. Seven years after their marriage, she was unable to give birth to a child. Later, she became pregnant and gave birth to three baby girls. The husband, an elementary school teacher and the breadwinner of the family was sad because he has no male child. He resorted to nagging the wife. Besides, age was not on her side to give birth to any child. As days went by, she decided to adopt a baby boy, and this idea increased the nagging tendency of the husband. In fact, he rejected the idea as a result of his status and attachment to culture. She then decided to avoid her husband. This decision exposed her more and more to drinking bars and deeper into free drinks offered by people as a compensatory behaviour, anytime she remembers her situation. She drinks too much and the degree of nagging by the husband increases. At times she gets drunk and disgraced in the public. This behavioural problem of Mrs. Kate caught the interest of a concerned neighbour.

Setting Counselling Goals
As a counsellor, I helped the client set goals that she could achieve. I followed her up and ensured that she achieved them. I tried not to impose anything on her. The goals were derived from the present problem and stated in behavioural terms.

The goals were that:
a. Mrs. Kate will stop drinking alcohol completely.
b. If Mrs. Kate does not drink alcohol, she will never be drunk.
The sub-goals are that:
1. At the end of week 1, the client was able to take a total of 6
bottles of alcohol.
2. At the end of week 3, the client was able to take a total of 4 bottles of alcohol.
3. At the end of week 5, the client took only 3 bottles of
alcohol. .
4. At the end of week 7, the client could take 1 bottle of alcohol only.
5. At the end of week 9, Mrs. Kate stopped drinking alcohol.
The neighbour and Mrs. Kate herself did the observation/check. To ensure success, the source of her problem was dealt with through counselling the nagging husband.
Selection of Methods for Treatment

Most of the treatments used in behaviour modifications are rooted in theories derived from learning theories. The therapist briefs the client on available techniques as an expert. With the client, they both arrived at the technique to be used. The counsellor did not impose the technique on the client. The four learning theories that yield data for treatments are classical conditioning, operant conditioning, modeling/observational learning and cognitive learning (though some problems may not fit into these four modes). Based on these, Mrs. Kate resolved with the counsellor that stimulus control would be used. With this, discussions of how to apply the technique when the urge to drink arises were held in counselling sessions. Later the problems arising from the use of the method is discussed.

Implementation of Treatment and Feedback
The therapist explained to Mrs. Kate his role expectations (as the counsellor) and the role Mrs. Kate would play (as the client). This was done during the first session. Then he briefed the client on how the treatment is to be carried out. The role of the client includes being punctual for treatment, getting involved seriously in counselling sessions, doing assignments, et cetera. Also, a necessary aspect of this treatment phase is that the counsellor applies the technique(s) selected for the treatment. Reinforcement may be necessary if the counselor notices an improvement on the behaviour of Mrs. Kate though through schedules, it may be systematically applied. Everything did not happen in the counselling setting to stabilize behaviour. We did a lot outside the counselling office, for instance; the client was given an assignment to perform at home. The assignment was given to the client to monitor her behaviour depending on the contract basis. The counselling sessions were 2-week intervals and the monitoring was bi-weekly. Data collected include: dates, the number of times the undesirable behaviour occurs in a given period and comments on factors, which prompted such behaviour.
Evaluation and Correction. It is necessary to evaluate the treatment given to Mrs. Kate so as to assess the method of acquiring and processing evidence needed to improve the client's personality. Evaluation should be both formative and summative. If there is improvement on the client's performance, the therapist reinforces the client; but if it is vice versa, he invites the client for a possible change of technique used.

Follow Up:
We brought the treatment to an end after giving it a summative evaluation. Formative evaluation must have already taken care of any necessary adjustments. However, after some period, the client needs to be reassessed so as to ensure that his modified behaviour is sustained. If after a period of about one year or so, the client remained stable in the newly learnt behaviour, the counseling can then be assured that the behaviour modification by Mrs. Kate is successful.

Summary
Psychologically oriented problems need psychological treatment; hence psychological, and guidance and counseling techniques offer best solutions to the above behavioural problems. Basically, these problems need behaviour modification techniques, which psychology and related guidance and counseling, as professional techniques will help in solving. Cognitive restructuring technique, and rational emotive technique, would also be found very useful in solving these behavioural problems. These psychological and counseling techniques can be used in combination or alone in solving the problems because such problems have something to do with individual perceptual orientation, as well as individual emotional state. There is therefore hope that these problems can be effectively solved using either or both of the above two psycho-counseling techniques.

By Cornelius Nwogwugwu, CM