Multimodal Rehabilitation Counseling

Abstract

In an effort to broaden his therapeutic approach, Arnold Lazarus developed multimodal therapy to provide a range of systematic intervention strategies for meeting the multiple level needs of clients seeking help. This article describes Dr. Lazarus's technically eclectic, behavior-based therapy, known as BASIC I.D., and its applications in rehabilitation. The BASIC I.D. process encompasses individual areas of behavior, affect, sensation, imagery, cognition, interpersonal relationships, and drugs/biology. As such, it is seen as a national addition to comprehensive rehabilitation efforts that must take into account a number of factors, many of which are included in the BASIC I.D. therapeutic approach. An example BASIC I.D. profile is included.

Multimodal Therapy With an Aggressive Preadolescent: A Demonstration of Effectiveness and Accountability

“…Although multimodal therapy uses many techniques from behavior modifica-tion, it also incorporates elements of social learning theory, general systems theory, and group communications theory (Lazarus, 1986; also see Bandura, 1977;Von Bertalanffy, 1974;Watzlawick, Weakland, & Fisch, 1974). This treatment has proved relevant and has demonstrated positive outcomes (Brunell, 1990;Gumaer, 1990;Keat, 1979;Lazarus, 1985Lazarus, , 1986O'Keefe & Castaldo, 1985;Weed & Hernandez, 1990;Weikel, 1989Weikel, , 1990. Multimodal therapy recognizes the following areas as viable avenues for treatment: (a) learning theory operant and classical conditioning; (b) modeling and vicarious processes; (c) private events-cognitive theory; (d) nonconscious processes (not to be confused with the unconscious) that address levels of awareness or conscious comprehension; and (e) defensive reactions.…”