PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SCIENCES

405 Breathing Habit Modification (1 credit unit)

Habit modification is client-centered, not treatment oriented. Objective – learning to assist clients in achieving breathing self-regulation where automated new breathing habits take the place of having to rely on outside-in self-interventions (techniques) for managing unidentified dysfunctional habits that may otherwise be disengaged through behavioral analysis and behavior modification; Crisis interventions – breathing techniques, cognition, band aids devices; Cognitive learning – new thoughts, new interpretations of symptoms, new understandings; Desensitization – of conditioned emotional & motivational responses associated with breathing mechanics & breathing mediated symptoms; Extinction – removal of reinforcements for dysfunctional habits, reinforcement for adaptive competing responses, deactivating behavioral triggers; Negative practice – intentional engagement of dysfunctional habits, e.g., chest breathing; Reinforcements – establishing new reinforcements, changing behavioral preferences; New Habits – allowing for respiratory reflexes (trust), diaphragmatic breathing, quiet breathing; Biofeedback – CO2 feedback and other modalities; Generalization – learning in the field.