Behavioral change
Competing Response Training Plan for a Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior
Helps a client practice a physically incompatible behavior to replace an unwanted automatic habit.
Your client understands their body-focused repetitive behavior is a problem, but the habit itself is so automatic it bypasses their intention to stop. The behavior often happens outside of full awareness, making it difficult for the client to interrupt the sequence once it begins. They need a practical, physical strategy to execute in the moment the impulse arises.
This directive helps the client formalize a plan to practice a competing response, an alternative behavior that is physically incompatible with the BFRB. It moves them from merely identifying a replacement action to having a concrete implementation strategy. The client finishes with a specific, rehearsed response ready to deploy when the urge occurs.
Competing Response Training Plan for a Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior
The Unwanted Behavior:
Your Competing Response (A physically incompatible action you can hold for 1-3 minutes):
When you feel the urge to perform the unwanted behavior, or notice you are already doing it, immediately switch to your competing response. Hold this new action until the urge subsides or for at least one minute.
Log every instance where you practice this switch in the table below. Complete each entry as soon as possible after the event.
| Date & Time | Trigger (Situation, feeling, place) | Action Taken (Used competing response?) | Result (Urge passed, reduced, returned?) |
|---|---|---|---|
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