Multimodal therapy is a type of psychological treatment that uses multiple methods to address the problems of a person. It is an integrative approach that combines different therapies to find the best way to help a person. This can mean using different techniques within the same session or using different approaches at different times. Multimodal therapy is often used when other therapies haven’t been successful.
What Is Multimodal Therapy?
Multimodal therapy is a psychotherapy technique designed by psychologist Arnold Lazarus, who invented the term behavioral therapy in psychotherapy.
Is multimodal therapy a part of behasioral psychology?
Multimodal therapy (MMT) is a form of behavioral therapy that takes into account the multiple factors that influence a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. MMT involves the use of different therapeutic approaches to address the different needs of each individual client.
Multimodal therapy (MMT) is a systematic and comprehensive psychotherapeutic approach developed by famous clinical psychologist Arnold Lazarus. For the first time, Arnold Lazarus (1958) introduced the terms “behavioral therapy” and “behavioral therapist” to the scientific literature to show that behavioral interventions are the basis in clinical practice.
Arnold Lazarus later expanded its technical spectrum in therapy, due to the high rate of re-disturbance seen only in follow-up studies of individuals who used behavioral methods. In his measurement and therapy, “who provides what is the best treatment for which problem, under what conditions, by whom?” chose to be multilateral and methodical in order to provide clearer answers to his questions.
Multimodal therapy of Lazarus is made up of 7 different and also interrelated models. These models are known as BASIC-ID with the abbreviation of English names formed by their initials. The problems that the therapy aims to correct irrational thoughts, perverted behavior, unwanted sensations, compelling images, stressful relationships, negative sensations, and biochemical imbalances.
According to therapists who practice multimodal therapy, the more the client learns from therapy, the lower the probability of recurrence of the disease or problem.
It is not enough for the therapist to be a good listener and not only to treat the patient well but also to have a lot of knowledge about the therapy and the types of therapy and to apply the technique that suits the patient the most.
Modality Profiles
Multimodal Therapy deals with the patient in many areas (multimodal) and BASIC I.D. takes its name from it:
B: Behavior
A: Affect
S: Sensation
I: Imagery
C: Cognition
I: Interpersonal relationships
D: Drugs / biology – medication, diet, hygiene, exercise, etc.
Identification of problems and treatment techniques in BASIC I.D. creates modality profiles. This framework allows the therapist to administer a treatment based on the individual condition of the patient. Accordingly, significant unhealthy deficiencies and excesses in the patient’s problems are provided for each modality.
Basic Response Techniques in Multimodal Therapy: Bridging and Monitoring
Bridging: The therapist starts from the patient’s preferred modality in BASIC I.D., then moves to other more efficient dimensions. For example, if the therapist finds it appropriate to start from the emotional modality, if the patient prefers to start from the cognitive modality, it is done so. This provides a smooth transition to other modalities in the future without making the patient feel unclear.
Monitoring: It is the examination of the triggering order of different modalities. This order can be in many different variations. For example, SCIB, CISB, I.BSCA, IBI.S, CISA, SICA etc. It can vary from person to person at the same time, and it is possible to see different sequential modalities for different problems in the same person.
This row shows which modality triggered the patient’s problem and which other modalities triggered it in which order. For example, considering the order of CISA (cognition-imaging-sensation-emotion), the thought of “if I worry” in C modality may bring to mind images that may be in a panic moment in I modality, this may activate S by causing excessive heart palpitations and frequent breathing and in A It can reveal a sense of panic.
Treatment techniques are also generally applied in this order. For example, for a problem showing the order of CISA, Meichenbaum’s “self-instruction” training, then the technique of coping in imagination, rhythmic breathing and relaxation exercises can be applied respectively.
Last Updated on December 11, 2022 by Lucas Berg
