A therapist asks a patient to describe what he believes would happen if his worst-case scenario became reality.The patient says,"If I fail this test,I'll never get into graduate school." What cognitive aspect is the therapist working with?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The therapist is working on decatastrophizing, which involves identifying and challenging catastrophic thoughts or beliefs that a patient might have. In this case, the patient believes that one failure on a test would completely derail his plans for graduate school. The therapist would work to help the patient recognize that there are other options available, and that one setback would not necessarily be the end of his academic career.

A Therapist Asks a Patient to Describe What He Believes