Aversion therapy helps make unwanted behaviors feel less rewarding. It stems from the idea that behavior can be learned and unlearned.
In the past, aversion therapy was used in some unethical ways. Today, it’s mainly used as a short-term treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs).
Aversion therapy isn’t recommended as a stand-alone treatment. Instead, it’s best used alongside other supports (like talk therapy) to help you meet your goals.
Have you ever tried to break a bad habit? Maybe you’ve tried to quit smoking, change your diet, or become less reactive. If so, you know that long-held behavioral patterns can be difficult to change.
Aversion therapy [1] is a form of mental healthcare designed to help reduce unwanted behaviors. It’s based on classical conditioning [2], a learning process that helps people form associations between experiences and behaviors. The idea is that behaviors that are learned can also be unlearned or replaced over time.
In aversion therapy, a person is exposed to something unpleasant while engaging in an undesired behavior. In theory, this makes the unwanted behavior less appealing. Learning more about how aversion therapy works and what to expect from it can help you decide if it’s something you’d like to explore.
How aversion therapy works
Aversion therapy works by changing the automatic connections your brain makes between certain behaviors and experiences. For example, maybe when you were a child, you spent many happy hours helping your grandmother tend her rose garden. It’s been many years since she passed away. But the smell of roses always makes you smile because it reminds you of her.
This is an example of a positive association. Your mind unconsciously connects the smell of roses with a happy childhood memory. But negative unconscious associations can exist too. For example, if your grandmother was harsh or cruel to you, the smell of roses might have a very different association for you. Depending on the severity of the situation, you might even develop an aversion to the smell of roses.
In aversion therapy, a provider can help you create new, negative associations with a behavior you want to eliminate.
What happens in aversion therapy
During an aversion therapy session, you’ll be asked to engage with or picture the behavior you’re trying to change. At the same time, you'll experience an unpleasant stimulus, like a bad taste, an unpleasant smell, or mild physical discomfort. The goal is to build an association between an unwanted behavior and an unpleasant stimulus.
In the past, electric shock was a common practice in aversion therapy. But today, most mental health professionals view the practice as outdated and problematic [3]. This is because it was used in harmful ways, like in an attempt to change someone’s sexuality [4]. Today, aversion therapy is more likely to involve exposure to foul smells or tastes. It might also include the use of medication or even virtual reality technology [5]. For example, virtual reality can recreate situations linked to an unwanted behavior, helping strengthen negative associations in a controlled setting.
Let’s say you want to use aversion therapy to stop drinking alcohol. Your treatment team would likely consist of a therapist, psychiatric provider, doctor, and/or other substance use disorder (SUD) specialists. After consenting to treatment, your medical provider may prescribe a medication that causes nausea if you consume alcohol [6].
With this medication, alcohol may no longer feel like the reward it once was. Instead of a way to relax, escape reality, or avoid uncomfortable emotions, alcohol becomes something that makes you feel physically ill. The theory is that this process can help a person build up an aversion to alcohol. This might make it easier to avoid. Research suggests that people with alcohol use disorder may improve in as few as four sessions [6] of aversion therapy.
Who can benefit from aversion therapy
Aversion therapy is mainly used in substance use disorder [5] treatment. It might be right for you if:
You want to change a behavior that’s having a significant negative effect on your life (like smoking, drinking, or gambling [7]).
You’ve tried stopping the behavior on your own multiple times, but you haven’t been successful.
You’re willing to consent to treatment that will be physically unpleasant or uncomfortable.
You understand that there’s limited research on the effectiveness [8] of long-term aversion therapy and that it can be considered unethical in some cases.
You’re open to including other supports (like talk therapy) alongside aversion therapy to address what’s driving the unwanted behavior.
Getting started with aversion therapy
To get started with aversion therapy, you’ll need to find a licensed medical or mental health provider who offers it. You can ask an existing provider for a referral. You can also search online therapy platforms and digital directories. Look for provider profiles with terms like “aversion therapy,” “behavior change,” “behavioral therapy,” or “substance use disorder treatment.”
If you already have a mental health provider, you can ask them about their experience with aversion therapy. Together, you can discuss the pros and cons of this approach and how it might be helpful for you. Whether you decide to work with a new or current provider, be sure to choose someone who emphasizes informed consent. They should also be willing to discuss the potential risks of aversion therapy and be able to recommend alternatives if it doesn’t work for you.
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One thing I often tell clients is that changing a habit can feel like losing a coping tool, even when that habit was causing problems. It's normal to miss the comfort or relief the behavior once provided. That's why it's important to build new ways to cope. That way, you're not just giving something up but also gaining healthier ways to manage stress and emotions.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Clinical reviewer
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Aversion therapy is based on the idea that you can stop an unwanted behavior by creating negative associations with it. In the past, it’s been used in harmful ways, and some critics have raised ethical concerns about it. But today, its application has changed, and it's mostly used as a short-term treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs).
In aversion therapy, providers use unpleasant stimuli to reduce cravings. For example, if a person is prescribed a medication that makes them nauseated if they drink alcohol, it’s more likely that they’ll avoid it. When used alongside other supports, aversion therapy can help you adopt healthier habits and make lasting positive changes.
At Rula, we’re here to help you feel better. Rula makes it easy to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who takes your insurance. That way, you don’t have to choose between great care and a price you can afford.
Rula patients pay about $15 per session with insurance, and 93% say they feel better after getting care through Rula. We have 21,000+ providers, and appointments are available as soon as tomorrow. We’re here to help you take the next step — wherever you are in your mental health journey.
References
- aversion conditioning https://dictionary.apa.org/aversion-conditioning
- Classical Conditioning (Archived) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470326/
- Statement on Aversion Therapy https://babcp.com/statement-on-aversion-therapy/
- Subjective and penile plethysmography responses to aversion therapy for homosexuality: A partial replication https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01542019
- The Effect of Aversive Therapy Using Virtual Reality on Craving, Depression, and Self‐Efficacy: A Pilot Study in Patients Under Methadone Maintenance Treatment https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12515104/
- The Neurobiological Mechanism of Chemical Aversion (Emetic) Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder: An fMRI Study https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/behavioral-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00182/full
- Controlled Comparison of Aversive Therapy and Imaginal Desensitization in Compulsive Gambling https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/abs/controlled-comparison-of-aversive-therapy-and-imaginal-desensitization-in-compulsive-gambling/98A6CCC42D669547A0A177D96F28D6BE
- Aversion Therapy https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/aversion-therapy?utm_
Liz Talago
Liz Talago, M.ed. is a mental health professional turned content writer and strategist based in the Detroit metro area. As an independent consultant for mental health organizations, Liz creates meaningful connections between brands and their audiences through strategic storytelling. Liz is known for championing diverse perspectives within the mental health industry and translating bold ideas into inspiring, affirming digital experiences.
In her free time, you can find her hiking with her two German Shepherds, puttering around her dahlia garden, or spending time with her family.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Having faced challenges like childhood abuse, neglect, and the loss of her father to suicide, Brandy Chalmers is deeply passionate about providing compassionate care. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Registered Play Therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy.
Brandy also teaches at a university, sharing her expertise with future mental health professionals. With over a decade of experience in settings like inpatient care and private practice, she specializes in helping clients with perfectionism, trauma, personality disorders, eating disorders, and life changes.
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