Behavioral Activation

Have you ever noticed that certain things that you do influence your mood or anxiety? For example: When you listen to sad music do you ever notice feeling sad for longer periods of time? Do you ever feel less motivated to apply for a job or school when you are actively worrying?

Behavioral activation is one of the most important CBT skills used in treating depression. It has to do with the way that behaviors and feelings influence each other.

Behavioral activation is a common intervention used in occupational therapy for mental health. Behavioral activation involves identifying and engaging in activities that promote positive emotions, even if you do not initially feel motivated to engage in them. For example, an OT practitioner may work with an individual with depression to identify enjoyable activities and help them develop a plan to engage in these activities regularly.

Behavioral activation is based on behaviorism. This is a branch of psychology that focuses on how someone’s environment shapes their actions and, therefore, their mental health.

The idea behind behavioral activation is that by deliberately practicing certain behaviors, people can “activate” a positive emotional state. For example, engaging in fulfilling or healthy activities can make someone feel good, which then makes them more likely to keep participating in those activities.

However, according to this concept, the reverse is also true. Engaging in behavior that makes someone feel bad can activate unpleasant feelings, which then creates a vicious cycle. The worse a person feels, the less likely they are to engage in behaviors that benefit them.