Behaviour support is distinct from other therapies due to its focus on understanding the function of behaviours and developing strategies to support positive behaviour change, often involving a team-based approach and a written behaviour support plan. While therapies like psychology often focus on mental health and individual sessions, behaviour support emphasises practical strategies and support for a person’s entire support system. Here’s a more specified breakdown:
Table of Contents
Behaviour Support:
- Focus:
Identifying the reasons behind behaviours (the “function”) and developing strategies to promote positive behaviour change and improve quality of life.
- Approach:
It’s a team-based approach, involving the individual, their support network (family, carers, etc.), and a written behaviour support plan.
- Strategies:
Behaviour support practitioners develop plans that include proactive strategies to prevent challenging behaviours and reactive strategies to respond to them effectively.
- Goal:
To improve the individual’s quality of life by reducing challenging behaviours and promoting positive behaviours, increasing independence, safety, and community participation.
- Examples:
Developing strategies to manage meltdowns, teaching coping mechanisms for anxiety, or creating structured routines to reduce challenging behaviours in a school setting.
Other Therapies (e.g., Psychological Therapy):
- Focus:
Addressing mental health concerns, emotional well-being, and thoughts and feelings.
- Approach:
Often involves one-on-one sessions with a therapist, using techniques like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), counselling, or other therapeutic interventions.
- Goal:
To enhance mental health, reduce symptoms of mental illness, and improve overall emotional well-being.
- Examples:
Therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental health conditions.
Key Differences Summarised:
Feature | Behaviour Support | Other Therapies (e.g., Psychological Therapy) |
Focus | Behaviour change, functional analysis, support systems | Mental health, thoughts, feelings, individual experiences |
Approach | Team-based, written plans, proactive and reactive strategies | One-on-one, therapeutic techniques, individual focus |
Goal | Improve quality of life through behaviour change | Improve mental health and emotional well-being |
Intervention | Practical strategies, skill-building, environmental adjustments | Talking therapies, assessments, addressing underlying emotional issues |
This analysis allows us to design behaviour strategies that are individualised, ethical, and evidence-based — not one-size-fits-all.
Conclusion
While behaviour support and other therapies such as psychological therapy may appear similar on the surface, they serve different yet complementary purposes. Behaviour support is grounded in understanding why behaviours occur and focuses on practical, proactive strategies that involve the individual’s entire support network. Its goal is to create meaningful, real-world change that improves daily functioning, safety, independence, and overall quality of life.
Other therapies, particularly psychological therapies, primarily focus on emotional wellbeing, thoughts, and mental health through individual therapeutic relationships. When used together, these approaches can provide a holistic and well-rounded support framework, ensuring both behavioural needs and emotional wellbeing are effectively addressed
Reach out to Transform Life today to learn how our positive behaviour support approach can help create practical, team-based strategies that improve quality of life, safety, and participation across everyday settings.
Transform Life is a NDIS registered organisation that provide support for you and your family.
Book your consult with an experienced Therapist at Transform Life to explore how OT, PBS and Speech Therapy can support you and your family.
