Question 1

The first step in Beck's cognitive therapy is to help the client:

Accepted Answer

The first step in Beck's cognitive therapy is to help the client recognize and monitor automatic thoughts, especially those that reflect negative cognitive biases. This allows the therapist and the client to identify which thoughts are leading to negative emotions and behaviors, and to work on challenging and changing those thoughts. Option A is incorrect because creating a baseline record of the frequency of the problem behavior comes in later in the therapy. Option B is incorrect because although free association and dream interpretation may be part of the therapy, they are not the first step. Option C is also incorrect because learning how to dispute and challenge irrational beliefs comes after identifying and monitoring automatic thoughts.

Question 2

After a client learns to monitor negative automatic thoughts, the next step in Beck's cognitive therapy is to:

Accepted Answer

Once a client learns to monitor negative automatic thoughts, the next step in Beck's cognitive therapy is to help them evaluate the accuracy of those thoughts. This involves looking for evidence that supports or refutes the negative thought and coming up with a more balanced, realistic perspective. Option B, teaching the client to replace negative automatic thoughts with positive ones, may come later in the therapy process, but it is not the next step after monitoring. Option C, using dream symbols, is not a technique typically used in cognitive therapy. Option D, active listening, may be used to explore personal meaning, but it is not the next step after monitoring negative thoughts.

Question 3

A therapy that uses a pragmatic approach and involves a treatment plan that integrates behavior modification techniques and cognitive therapy techniques is called:

Accepted Answer

The therapy described in the question involves a combination of behavior modification techniques and cognitive therapy techniques, which are the main components of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Therefore, the correct answer is D - cognitive-behavioral therapy. Choices A, B, and C describe other types of therapies that focus on different techniques or approaches. Systematic desensitization is a type of exposure therapy used to treat anxiety disorders, virtual reality therapy uses a virtual environment to simulate real-life situations for therapeutic purposes, and rational-emotive therapy is a type of cognitive therapy that focuses on identifying and changing irrational beliefs.

Question 4

Dr. Lynch is a psychotherapist who treats people with stress-related disorders, emotional problems, or anxiety. His approach involves a structured program of mindfulness meditation, yoga and mindful body practices, and group discussion. Dr. Lynch is using a cognitive-behavioral therapy called:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Lynch's structured program of mindfulness meditation, yoga, and mindful body practices, and group discussion indicates that he is practicing mindfulness-based stress reduction, which is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy. This approach helps individuals to manage stress, reduce anxiety, and improve emotional regulation.

Question 5

A meditation technique that involves present-centered awareness without judgment is called:

Accepted Answer

The technique described involves being mindful, meaning being present in the moment without judgment or attachment to thoughts or emotions. Magnification and minimization, personalization, and selective abstraction are all examples of cognitive distortions, which are not related to mindfulness meditation.

Question 6

______ developed cognitive therapy.

Accepted Answer

Aaron Beck is the developer of cognitive therapy, which focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns that contribute to emotional and behavioral problems. Albert Ellis is the developer of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), Carl Rogers is associated with person-centered therapy, and Mary Cover Jones is known for her work in behavior therapy, specifically in desensitization techniques for phobias.

Question 7

The mindfulness meditation techniques of present-centered awareness without judgment that target both thoughts and behaviors without challenging, testing, or replacing the content of thoughts are called:

Accepted Answer

Mindfulness meditation techniques that focus on present-centered awareness without judgment and do not challenge or replace thoughts are a common feature of all the options listed: mindfulness-based interventions, therapies, and acceptance therapies.

Question 8

According to Beck's cognitive therapy, ______ cause psychological problems.

Accepted Answer

Beck's cognitive therapy posits that negative cognitive biases, distorted thinking, and unrealistic beliefs are the root cause of psychological problems. These maladaptive ways of thinking can lead to negative emotions and behaviors. Through cognitive restructuring, individuals can learn to identify and challenge these negative thought patterns, leading to improved mental health.

Question 9

Jeff experiences some technical glitches with his computer program during an important presentation at a company meeting. Although flustered, he quickly recovers and carries on with his presentation. He gets a round of enthusiastic applause at the end of the presentation and a personal compliment from the company president. But afterward, Jeff agonizes over his technical problems with the computer program and is certain that he has forever disgraced himself in the eyes of his superiors and will never get promoted. According to Beck's cognitive therapy, Jeff is demonstrating a(n) _____ called _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jeff experiences some technical glitches with his...

Question 10

Candace overhears a classmate complaining that some students have such huge egos that they completely dominate class discussions and make it impossible for other students to voice their opinions or even ask a question. Candace walks away in tears, convinced that the classmate is talking about her. According to Beck's cognitive therapy, Candace is demonstrating a(n) _____ called _____.

Accepted Answer

Candace is personalizing the complaint and assuming it is about her without any evidence to support that belief, indicating a negative cognitive bias of personalization. There is no indication that Candace is making arbitrary inferences or overgeneralizing, and there is no evidence of minimization in this situation.

Question 11

Jake is a therapist who practices Aaron Beck's cognitive therapy, and Janice is a therapist who practices Albert Ellis's rational-emotive therapy. BOTH Jake and Janice would probably agree with which of the following statements?

Accepted Answer

Both cognitive therapy and rational-emotive therapy focus on the role of thoughts in shaping emotions and behavior. Cognitive therapy emphasizes identifying and modifying maladaptive thoughts, while rational-emotive therapy encourages clients to challenge irrational beliefs and replace them with rational ones. Therefore, both approaches would agree with the statement that moods and emotions are the results of what people think about the events that happen to them, not the result of the events themselves. The other options are not universally accepted by both cognitive and rational-emotive therapists.

Question 12

Dr. Sokolov practices cognitive therapy as described by Aaron Beck. Her client, Davis, tells her that he is a total failure and has failed at everything that he has ever attempted. In response, Dr. Sokolov would most likely say:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Sokolov is using the cognitive therapy technique of examining evidence for and against negative thoughts, and challenging them with more realistic and balanced thoughts. By pointing out the evidence that Davis has actually succeeded in certain areas, Dr. Sokolov is helping him reevaluate his negative belief about being a total failure. Option A is dismissive and not helpful in changing Davis's negative thought pattern. Option B is a way to explore Davis's feelings further but does not challenge his negative belief. Option C is also a way to explore underlying thoughts, but Dr. Sokolov needs to help Davis challenge those thoughts to change his belief about being a total failure.

Question 13

In Beck's cognitive therapy, the therapist strives to create a therapeutic climate of:

Accepted Answer

In Beck's cognitive therapy, the therapist aims to collaborate with the client to identify and modify maladaptive thinking patterns. This involves working together to generate new insights and solutions, rather than imposing the therapist's ideas onto the client or engaging in confrontational interactions.

Question 14

As part of Beck's cognitive therapy, the therapist _____, showing the client how to empirically test the accuracy of _____.

Accepted Answer

In Beck's cognitive therapy, the therapist acts as a model and shows the client how to empirically test the accuracy of his or her assumptions and beliefs. The therapist helps the client identify and challenge their negative thoughts and beliefs, and tests them against reality to see if they hold up or not. This helps the client develop a more accurate and balanced way of thinking. The other options, such as using free association or aggressively challenging the client's statements, are not part of Beck's cognitive therapy approach.

Question 15

The ability to monitor thoughts and feelings without judgment ideally allows people to experience disturbing thoughts and feelings without reacting to them. One important mindfulness technique used to achieve this ability is called:

Accepted Answer

Decentering is a mindfulness technique that involves stepping back from one's thoughts and emotions, observing them objectively without judgment, and recognizing that they are just mental events and not necessarily reflective of reality. This can help individuals reduce their reactivity to distressing thoughts and emotions and manage them in a more adaptive way. Magnification and minimization, personalization, and selective abstraction are cognitive distortions or thinking patterns that can contribute to increased emotional distress and are not mindfulness techniques.

Question 16

A therapy approach that is based on the idea that cognitions, behaviors, and emotional responses are interrelated, with each affecting the other, is called:

Accepted Answer

The description given in the question matches the principles and theories of cognitive-behavioral therapy, which posits that one's thoughts, behaviors, and emotions are interconnected and influence one another. Cognitive-behavioral therapy aims to identify and modify maladaptive thoughts and behaviors, leading to improved emotional well-being. Motivational interviewing, contingency management, and interpersonal therapy all have distinct theoretical underpinnings and best practices that differ from those of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Question 17

Liz wants to quit smoking. She consults a therapist, Dr. Jones, who develops a specific treatment plan for her. The treatment involves several components: (1) modeling and role-playing to help Liz learn how to overcome the urge to smoke in social situations; (2) sessions in which Liz identifies her beliefs and automatic thoughts regarding smoking and learns how to modify those thoughts; and (3) helping Liz change her automatic responses to situational cues that prompt her to smoke. Dr. Jones is probably using:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Jones is using cognitive-behavioral therapy, as they are focusing on identifying and modifying Liz's thought patterns and behaviors regarding smoking. The use of modeling and role-playing also suggests a CBT approach.

Question 18

As part of her treatment for an eating disorder, Anne's psychologist designs a treatment program that involves monitoring Anne's thoughts about food and her weight and recording her eating behavior and weight-control techniques. In addition, her therapist develops a behavior modification program that is designed to reward appropriate eating behavior and discourage inappropriate behaviors. Which therapy is Anne's psychologist using?

Accepted Answer

The therapy described in the scenario involves monitoring and modifying thought patterns and behavior related to food and weight, which are key components of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The use of behavior modification techniques further supports the use of CBT.

Question 19

The goal of ______________ is to target both thoughts and behaviors without challenging, testing, or replacing the content of thoughts, and to change the context in which those thoughts are understood; therapists teach clients to observe and change their relationship to maladaptive thoughts and emotions.

Accepted Answer

The description outlines the key features of mindfulness-based interventions, which aim to promote awareness and acceptance of thoughts and emotions without necessarily changing their content. Rational emotive therapy, on the other hand, specifically targets the beliefs and assumptions underlying maladaptive thoughts, while motivational interviewing focuses on increasing motivation for behavior change. Interpersonal therapy targets relationship problems and associated emotions.

Question 20

According to Aaron Beck's cognitive therapy, people with major depressive disorder:

Accepted Answer

According to Aaron Beck's cognitive therapy, individuals with major depressive disorder have developed a negative cognitive bias where they tend to distort their perceptions of events and situations. This can lead to negative thinking patterns and self-defeating behaviors. Beck's approach aims to identify and challenge these distorted thoughts and replace them with more realistic and positive ones. The other options (A, B, and D) are not central to Beck's cognitive therapy approach.

Quiz 14: Therapies