When Jane goes to another therapist who instructs her to stay awake for three hours before going to bed, which therapeutic approach is being utilized?

The scenario presented focuses on the directive given to Jane by another therapist to stay awake for three hours before going to bed. This instruction is characteristic of a behavioral approach. Behavioral modification techniques involve directly addressing and altering specific behaviors through reinforcement and other strategies.

In this case, the therapist is implementing a specific behavioral intervention aimed at changing Jane's sleep patterns. By instructing her to stay awake for a set period, the therapist emphasizes a practical step to manage her behavior related to sleep, demonstrating an understanding of the relationships between behaviors and emotional or psychological states.

The emphasis on changing behavior through specific actions aligns closely with concepts fundamental to behavioral modification, where measurable changes and observable behavior are the primary focus of treatment. This approach often includes clear instructions or assignments for the client to follow, reinforcing the idea of behavior change as a pathway to psychological improvement.

While problem-solving therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy address broader cognitive and emotional processes often involving exploration and acceptance, respectively, the directive nature of the instruction is more aligned with behavioral modification principles. Targeting an attempted solution does not specifically align with the clear, structured behavioral strategies evident in this scenario.