This study aimed at characterizing the work of two behavior analysts in a therapeutic setting, with clients with a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Four to five therapeutic sessions of each pair (therapist - client) were recorded. The therapist and clients' verbalizations were classified in relation to their relation to the client's complaints, and were categorized as: questions, descriptions, explanations, advices, feedback, inferences or other verbalization. Results indicated differences between the two therapists: the verbalization of therapists A suggested that he applied differential reinforcement to certain classes of client's verbalizations, with a small occurrence of counseling, while the verbalization of therapist B was classified as giving advice and explaining. For both therapists, the majority of their explanations about the clients' behavior were classified as emphasizing the response-consequence relationship, whichy be suggestive of coherence with the behavior analytical approach.
behavioral therapy; obsessive-compulsive disorder; therapeutic relationship
