Deck 14: Aaron Beck and Cognitive Therapy

Question 1

In cognitive therapy, thoughts are believed to be

A)the determinant of emotions and behavior.
B)independent of emotions and behavior.
C)the result of emotions and behavior.
D)more important than emotions and behavior.

Answer 1

the determinant of emotions and behavior.

Question 2

According to Kelly,

A)people are disturbed by events, not emotions.
B)personal constructs allow people to make sense of reality.
C)Beck's view of problem causation cannot be supported.
D)personal constructs are generally permanent.

Answer 2

personal constructs allow people to make sense of reality.

Question 3

In the treatment of depression, Beck found that

A)medication was necessary.
B)cognitive therapy and medication were equally effective.
C)cognitive therapy was more effective than medication.
D)medication was effective only if cognitive therapy accompanied it.

Answer 3

cognitive therapy was more effective than medication.

Question 4

In cognitive therapy, background factors

A)are unimportant because the approach is present-oriented.
B)are unimportant because current thoughts are the focus.
C)are important to the development of rapport.
D)are important because of their contribution to dysfunctional thinking.

Question 5

Cognitive theorists view the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as

A)unnecessary.
B)an essential treatment tool.
C)harmful because of its stigmatizing labels.
D)marginally helpful.

Question 6

Target(s) of intervention in cognitive therapy is/are

A)thoughts only.
B)feelings and thoughts.
C)actions and thoughts.
D)thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Question 7

In cognitive therapy, clients are encouraged to view core beliefs as

A)ideas.
B)truths.
C)self-definitions.
D)values.

Question 8

A man finds out that he was not given a promotion. Which is the best example of a core cognition he might have in response to this situation?

A)Not getting a promotion is a terrible thing.
B)They realize I don't have leadership qualities and therefore chose someone else.
C)Life is unfair. You never get what you deserve.
D)The desire to achieve is a curse.

Question 9

Which of the following is not true of schemas?

A)They readily incorporate confirming information.
B)They tend to neglect contradictory information.
C)They can be activated by a particular stimulus.
D)Negative schemas must be altered before negative automatic thoughts will change.

Question 10

Which of the following is not true of cognitive therapy?

A)It usually is short-term and time-limited.
B)The therapist acts as an authority figure.
C)This is a psychoeducational model.
D)Schema work is the heart of the therapeutic process.

Question 11

Ariel, a cognitive therapist, asked her client, "What was going through your mind just then?" Her most likely objective was to

A)ask an open question.
B)identify automatic thoughts.
C)encourage the client to be more specific.
D)determine her client's affective reaction.

Question 12

Cognitive therapists view empathy as

A)essential to development of a positive therapeutic alliance.
B)irrelevant.
C)likely to increase self-pity.
D)desirable but not essential.

Question 13

In cognitive therapy, mood inventories are

A)considered invasive.
B)used frequently.
C)considered too impersonal.
D)used only during the first and last sessions to assess client progress.

Question 14

When treating young people who represent diverse ethnic and cultural groups, cognitive therapy

A)is recommended.
B)is not recommended because it requires extensive verbal skills.
C)is recommended only when treating depression and anxiety.
D)is not recommended because of recent research.

Question 15

Which of the following does not typically characterize cognitive therapy?

A)long-term follow-up
B)use of case formulation
C)use of treatment planning
D)long-term treatment

Question 16

Describe at least five of the important principles of cognitive therapy.

Question 17

Define the following and explain their role in cognitive therapy: automatic thought, intermediate belief, core belief, and schema.

Question 18

Describe the steps or procedures in an initial session of cognitive therapy. How do these differ from the procedures typically used in a second session.

Question 19

List the six elements of a case formulation.

Question 20

Identify three automatic thoughts that the following client might have. Explain three different approaches that you might use to help him evaluate the reality of his cognitions:
"I feel so out of place at this school. Everyone else seems to know what they are doing and are so confident. I am the first person in my family to go to college. I'm sure that most people had family members who could help them get ready and give them good advice. But I was totally on my own. I'm really worried that my preparation wasn't good enough. I went to a small high school in a small town. I just didn't have exposure to a lot of the experiences other students seem to have had."

Question 21

Choose five techniques from the following list of strategies commonly used in cognitive therapy. Describe each technique and provide an example of each.
●activity scheduling
●affirmations
●bibliotherapy
●cognitive and covert modeling
●diaries
●distancing
●diversions and distractions
●graded task assignment
●letter writing
●mental and emotional imagery
●rational-emotive role play
●relabeling or reframing
●role-play dialogue between old and new thoughts
●self-talk
●systematic assessment of alternatives
●thought stopping

Question 22

Describe the purpose of Judith Beck's Dysfunctional Thought Record and list its six elements.

Question 23

Describe the advantages and limitations of cognitive therapy. Describe the client characteristics that would or would not make a person a good candidate for this approach.

Question 24

Identify three strategies that might be used to raise questions about the validity of each of the following cognitive distortions.
a) Whenever I call Max to discuss a problem, he always seems in such a hurry to get off the phone. I don't think he thinks my ideas are very good. He probably thinks I'm not able to make much of a contribution, so he tries to end our conversations as quickly as possible.
b) My husband travels so much and works long hours. I've come to the conclusion that he just doesn't value our relationship anymore. If he did, he would spend more time with me.
c) I didn't get the part in the school play that I wanted. I guess I'm just not talented enough. There's no point in my trying to have a career in theatre. I'd never be able to make a living that way.

Question 25

Discuss the role of the therapist in cognitive therapy.

Question 26

How would a cognitive therapist approach termination of treatment? Consider topics to be addressed and scheduling of follow-up sessions.

Question 27

Write a dialogue that reflects cognitive therapy. Include at least 10 client statements and 10 clinician statements.

Question 28

Discuss Young's schema therapy. How does this complement or differ from cognitive therapy? What types of clients would benefit most from schema therapy?