Description of the Strategy

Competing response training is a component of the habit-reversal procedure developed by Azrin and Nunn in 1973. Habit reversal consists of four major treatment components: awareness training, competing response practice, habit control motivation, and generalization training. Substantial research demonstrates the effectiveness of habit reversal for the treatment of habit disorders (nervous habits and tics). Research also demonstrates the effectiveness of a simplified version of habit reversal, consisting of awareness training and competing response practice. Treatment consisting of awareness training and competing response practice is referred to as competing response training or simplified habit reversal.

In competing response training, the client learns to become aware of each instance of the habit behavior (awareness training) and to use a competing response ...