Aproximación al estudio del reforzamiento verbal en psicoterapia

Abstract

Verbal reinforcement stands as a pivotal procedure implicated in behavioral change across various therapeutic modalities. It constitutes a fundamental tenet of behavioral principles, yet its verbal manifestation in clinical contexts remains relatively underexplored. This study aims to comprehensively examine this phenomenon and contribute insights into how therapists employ positive verbal reinforcement throughout different phases of psychological interventions. An analysis of 60 clinical sessions in behavioral therapy employs a systematic categorization of therapist and client verbal behavior designed to scrutinize therapeutic interaction. The findings suggest that therapists employ verbal reinforcement by expressing nuanced levels of approval contingent on the nature of client verbalizations. This research underscores the efficacy of observational methodology in probing processes that elucidate clinical change, shedding light on the role of verbal reinforcement procedures and their interplay with other potential functions of therapist verbal behavior.