Deck 10: Cognitive Therapy

Question 1

Choose one therapeutic technique, define it and give a client example: a) questioning, b) thought recording, c) activity scheduling.
2 Discuss the therapeutic atmosphere, relationship between the counselor and client, and the roles of the counselor and the client.

Answer 1

a) Questioning: This therapeutic technique involves the counselor asking the client open-ended and probing questions to help them explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors more deeply.

Client Example: A client who is struggling with low self-esteem may be asked questions such as "What do you think about yourself in comparison to others?" or "Can you identify any past experiences that may have contributed to your low self-esteem?"

b) Thought recording: This technique involves the client keeping a record of their thoughts and emotions throughout the day, particularly in response to specific triggers or situations. The client and counselor can then review and analyze these records to identify patterns and challenge negative thought patterns.

Client Example: A client with anxiety may be asked to keep a thought record whenever they experience a panic attack, noting the triggering event, their automatic thoughts, and the resulting emotions and behaviors.

c) Activity scheduling: This technique involves the counselor helping the client plan and schedule enjoyable and fulfilling activities as a way to improve mood and overall well-being. The client is encouraged to engage in activities that they may have been avoiding or neglecting.

Client Example: A client experiencing depression may work with their counselor to create a schedule of enjoyable activities such as exercise, hobbies, or social outings to counteract feelings of lethargy and low motivation.

Therapeutic Atmosphere and Relationship:
The therapeutic atmosphere is one of empathy, trust, and non-judgment, where the counselor provides a safe space for the client to explore their thoughts and emotions. The relationship between the counselor and client is collaborative, with the counselor guiding and supporting the client in their journey towards healing and personal growth.

Roles of the Counselor and Client:
The counselor's role is to provide guidance, support, and expertise in therapeutic techniques, while also facilitating the client's self-discovery and empowerment. The client's role is to actively engage in the therapeutic process, be open and honest, and be willing to take on new perspectives and behaviors. Both the counselor and client work together to achieve the client's therapeutic goals.

Question 2

Describe two cognitive distortions identified by Beck and give examples that a client might present.

Answer 2

Two cognitive distortions identified by Beck are 1) All-or-nothing thinking and 2) Catastrophizing.

All-or-nothing thinking, also known as black-and-white thinking, is a cognitive distortion in which individuals see things in absolute terms, with no middle ground or shades of gray. An example of this distortion that a client might present is believing that if they are not perfect at their job, they are a total failure. Another example could be thinking that if they don't get a perfect score on a test, they are a complete idiot.

Catastrophizing is a cognitive distortion in which individuals magnify and exaggerate the potential negative outcomes of a situation. A client might present this distortion by constantly worrying about a minor mistake they made at work, believing that it will lead to them getting fired. Another example could be thinking that if they don't get invited to a social event, it means that no one likes them and they will be alone forever.

These cognitive distortions can lead to negative thought patterns and impact an individual's mental well-being. It is important for clients to recognize and challenge these distortions in order to develop a more balanced and realistic perspective.

Question 3

Describe one of the primal modes and how you might see it in a client's behavior.

Answer 3

One of the primal modes in psychology is the fight-or-flight response, which is a survival mechanism that prepares an individual to either confront or escape a threat. This response is often triggered by a perceived danger or stressor.

In a client's behavior, you might see the fight-or-flight response manifest in various ways. For example, if a client is faced with a stressful situation, they may become agitated, aggressive, or defensive, exhibiting the "fight" response. On the other hand, they may also show signs of avoidance, withdrawal, or even panic, indicating the "flight" response. These behaviors can be observed in a variety of contexts, such as during therapy sessions, interpersonal interactions, or in response to triggering situations.

Recognizing the presence of the fight-or-flight response in a client's behavior can be important for therapists and counselors, as it can inform their approach to addressing the client's underlying stressors and coping mechanisms. By understanding how this primal mode influences the client's behavior, mental health professionals can work towards helping them develop healthier ways of managing stress and responding to perceived threats.

Question 4

Describe the three general phases of each cognitive session, and the specific tasks associated with each phase.

Question 5

Evaluate cognitive therapy's utility for use with clients from diverse backgrounds. What are some strengths and potential pitfalls of this approach?

Question 6

Which of the following statements most accurately describes cognitive theorists' views of human nature?

A) Humans are constantly striving for superiority
B) Humans are driven by aggressive impulses
C) Humans are social beings and therefore strive to be involved in social interactions
D) Humans strive to adapt to the environment

Question 7

The most recent version of cognitive therapy appears to be a combination of which of the following two theories:

A) Behaviorism and psychoanalysis
B) Behaviorism and rational emotive behavioral therapy
C) Psychoanalysis and person-centered theory
D) Psychoanalysis and individual psychology

Question 8

When Joan goes to class to take a test, she experiences a vague "bad" feeling. According to Cognitive Therapy, the most immediate cause of this feeling is probably:

A) maladaptive schemata
B) distorted thoughts
C) automatic thoughts
D) irrational beliefs

Question 9

The most basic kind of cognitive processing, according to cognitive therapy, is driven by the:

A) primal modes
B) schema
C) irrational beliefs
D) constructive modes

Question 10

The primary focus of cognitive therapy is the:

A) influence of a person's culture on his or her core beliefs
B) development of psychological well-being
C) component of depression
D) essential roots of psychological dysfunction

Question 11

When Jason goes to the grocery store, he experiences strong urges to flee, and feels anxious. Beck would say that:

A) his self-enhancement primal mode is appropriately activated
B) the threat primal mode is inappropriately activated
C) metacognition is occurring
D) the victim mode is active

Question 12

Cognitive therapy theorists purport that adaptive functioning is influenced by:

A) achievement
B) healthy interpersonal relationships
C) adaptive core beliefs that are developed in childhood
D) all of the above contribute to adaptive functioning

Question 13

According to the cognitive model, emotions and behaviors are the result of an individual's:

A) perception of a situation
B) actual experience of a situation
C) perception of his or her cognition
D) actual experience of interpersonal relationships

Question 14

Which of the flowing is NOT a basic need of humans according to cognitive therapy?

A) preservation
B) reproduction
C) dominance
D) self-esteem

Question 15

Which of the two following pairs of therapists are most alike in terms of how they approach counseling?

A) Person-centered and psychoanalytic
B) Behavioral and cognitive therapy
C) Adlerian and person-centered
D) Rational emotive behavioral therapy and Adlerian

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a level of cognitive processing?

A) automatic
B) conscious
C) unconscious
D) metacognitive

Question 17

The initial roles of the therapist and client in cognitive therapy are MOST like:

A) co-therapists
B) fellow travelers
C) teacher-student
D) doctor-patient

Question 18

Collaborative empiricism refers to the:

A) client and therapist working together to investigate the client's presenting problem
B) warmth and genuineness that the therapist and client demonstrate to each other
C) therapist's position as a blank slate in the second phase of treatment
D) client's role of a student in the first phase of treatment

Question 19

In cognitive therapy, client resistance is seen as stemming from:

A) activated depressogenic schemata
B) irrational beliefs toward the therapist
C) therapist beliefs
D) problems in collaboration

Question 20

Arlene, a cognitive therapist, asks her client Sue to take some baby steps towards reestablishing her relationship with her family. Arlene is using

A) a graded task assignment
B) activity scheduling
C) Socratic questioning
D) none of the above

Question 21

Cognitive restructuring occurs via:

A) behavioral techniques used in cognitive therapy
B) cognitive techniques used in cognitive therapy
C) investigation into irrational core beliefs that developed during childhood
D) both a and b

Question 22

Cognitive therapy has been criticized for which of the following:

A) constructs are often difficult to operationalize
B) there is not enough emphasis on cultural factors that influence the client
C) there is not enough attention paid to familial influences
D) all of the above are criticisms of cognitive therapy

Question 23

Which of the following does not fit with the others?

A) downward arrow
B) thought recording
C) activity scheduling
D) shame attacking

Question 24

Researchers who have studied cognitive therapy generally report finding:

A) consistent empirical evidence to support the causal model of depression
B) consistent empirical evidence to support the descriptive model of depression
C) consistent empirical evidence to support cognitive therapy as the preferred method of treatment for depression when compared to other treatment modalities
D) limited empirical evidence to support the descriptive model of depression

Question 25

Which of the following is LEAST likely to be included as a goal in the treatment plan of a client who is receiving cognitive therapy?

A) development of adaptive problem solving strategies
B) demonstration of a shift from primitive to more reflective operations
C) development of awareness of unconscious motives that are driving behavior
D) demonstration of the ability to generalize material learned in therapy sessions to
Everyday life

Question 26

Cognitive structures used to organize information are known as:

A) schemas
B) triads
C) neurons
D) functionals

Question 27

Which of the following DOES NOT belong with the rest?

A) automatic thoughts
B) awareness
C) cognitive triad
D) metacognition

Question 28

Empirical evidence supports that a causal relationship exists between:

A) cognitions and psychological distress
B) cognitions and psychological well-being
C) sociotrophy, autonomy and psychological distress
D) none of the above

Question 29

Which of the following is an example of a constructive mode according to cognitive therapy theory?

A) recreational activities
B) creativity
C) feelings of happiness
D) perceptions of threat

Question 30

Helen arrived for her therapy session and reported to her therapist that she "is a terrible mother" because she forgot to make cookies for her daughter's snack time at school today. Helen's therapist knows from previous sessions that Helen works very hard to maintain open communication with her daughter about school and her friendships and has a schedule at home that is predictable. Helen's therapist is MOST likely to conclude that Helen is demonstrating which of the following cognitive distortions?

A) Emotional reasoning
B) Tunnel vision
C) Magnification/Minimization
D) Overgeneralization

Question 31

During the first phase of a cognitive counseling session, the therapist might be

A) checking the client's mood
B) getting an update on the client's situation
C) prioritizing the agenda items
D) all of the above

Question 32

When clients receiving cognitive, rational emotive behavior therapy, and pharmacotherapy were studied (David et al., 2008), ______________.

A) all three interventions affected autonomic thought, intermediate and core beliefs, and irrational beliefs
B) only cognitive therapy could alter automatic thoughts effectively
C) Both rational emotive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy were more effective at changing belief structures
D) all three interventions were unsuccessful in affecting client thoughts and beliefs