CBT Theory

Question 1

What is the CBT theory of change?

Answer 1

Change occurs by learning to modify dysfunctional thought patterns. Once a patient understands the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, s/he is able to modify or change the patterns of thinking to cope with stressors in a more positive manner.

Question 2

CBT Role of the therapist?

Answer 2

The therapist… is a collaborative teacher who uses structured learning experiences that teach patients to monitor and write down their neg thoughts and mental images. The goal is to recognize how those ideas affect their mood, behavior, and physical condition.

…teach important coping skills, such as problem solving and scheduling pleasurable experiences.

…creates structured sessions and provides homework for clients to continue to work on problems in-between visits.

Question 3

What are the treatment goals in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Answer 3

Patients learn to recognize negative patterns of thought, evaluate their validity, and replace them with healthier ways of thinking.

Patients symptoms or problems are relieved.

Patient develops positive coping skills and strategies.

Question 4

CBT Main concept:

Negative Cognitive Triad

Answer 4

1. View of self (I’m not worth anything)
2. View of the world (Everybody hates me)
3. View of prospects for the future (There are no hopes for my future)

Question 5

CBT Main concept:

Automatic Thoughts

Answer 5

Thoughts about ourselves or others that individuals are often not aware of and thus are not assessed for accuracy or relevancy.

Question 6

CBT Main concept:

Maladaptive Automatic Thoughts

Answer 6

These are automatic thoughts that are typically centered on negative themes or distorted reflections that are accepted as true.

Question 7

CBT Main concept:

Schemas

Answer 7

A network of rules or templates for information processing that are shaped by developmental influences and other life experiences. These rules dictate how individuals think about and interpret the world and play a role in regulating self-worth and coping skills.

Changing schemas is a major target of CBT.

Question 8

CBT Main concept:

Overgeneralization

Answer 8

Single negative event is seen as a never-ending pattern of defeat. One mistake leads to “I never do anything right”

Question 9

CBT Main concept:

Arbitrary Inference

Answer 9

Cognitive distortion that leads to drawing conclusions without evidence or facts to support those conclusions.

Question 10

CBT Main concept:

Selective Abstraction

Answer 10

Attending to detail while ignoring total context. Taking detail out of context and missing the totality of the situation.

Question 11

CBT Main concept:

Personalization

Answer 11

Seeing yourself as a cause of negative external event.

Question 12

CBT Main concept:

Polarized Thinking

Answer 12

Thinking in extremes, viewing things as black or white.

Question 13

CBT interventions:

Teach the client about
Negative Triad

Answer 13

View of self
View of world
View of prospects for the future

Question 14

CBT interventions:

Socratic Questioning

Answer 14

Questioning allows the therapist to stimulate the client’s self-awareness, focus in on the problem definition, expose the clients belief system, and challenge irrational beliefs while revealing the clients cognitive processes.

Question 15

CBT interventions:

Reframing

Answer 15

Thinking differently by “reframing” negative or untrue assumptions and thoughts into ones that promote adaptive behavior and lessen anxiety.

Question 16

CBT interventions:

Cognitive Retructuring

Answer 16

Teaches client to identify irrational, distorted, or maladaptive beliefs, question the evidence for the belief, and generate alternative responses.

Question 17

CBT interventions:

Homework

Answer 17

To assist with cognitive restructuring, clients are often assigned homework. Typical CBT homework assignments may include activities in behavioral activation, monitoring automatic thoughts, reviewing the previous therapy session, and preparing for the next therapy session.

Question 18

CBT interventions:

Self- Monitoring

Answer 18

Also called diary work, self-monitoring is used to record the amount and degree of thoughts and behaviors. This provides the client and therapist information regarding the degree of a clients negative affirmations.

Question 19

CBT interventions:

Behavioral Experiments

Answer 19

The experiment process includes experiencing, observing, reflecting, and planning. These steps are conducted through thought testing, discovery, activity, and/or observation.

Question 20

CBT interventions:

Systematic Desensitization

Answer 20

…pairs relaxation with exposure to something stressful. Clients are taught to relax in anxiety producing situations.

Question 21

CBT interventions:

Anxiety Management Training

Answer 21

Teaches skills for specific situations using imagery. The client practices relaxation until anxiety is reduced then continues with imagery.

Question 22

CBT interventions:

Assertiveness Training

Answer 22

Teaches client to specify desires and needs using minimally effective responses to assert their position. Used with unassertive or overly aggressive clients.

Question 23

CBT interventions:

Behavioral Activation

Answer 23

Increases activity for depressed or passive clients by using activity scheduling and incentives.

Question 24

CBT interventions:

Communication Skills Training

Answer 24

Used in couples therapy to help couples talk about feelings and problems.

Question 25

CBT interventions:

Downward Arrow

Answer 25

Used to uncover underlying assumptions. “If this is true, what does it mean bout you and your life?”

Question 26

CBT interventions:

Exposure

Answer 26

Client faces fear stimuli without resorting to escape or avoidance maneuvers. Can be done in real life or with imagery.

Question 27

CBT interventions:

Finding Alternatives

Answer 27

Clients review all possible options and alternatives for either interpreting a situation or resolving a problem.

Question 28

CBT interventions:

Labeling Distortions

Answer 28

Teaches client to recognize and label particular distortions in thinking that can lead to problems with interpretations of events.

Question 29

CBT interventions:

Mastery/Pleasure Ratings

Answer 29

Clients use activity chart and rates mastery or pleasure that they derive from activity.

Question 30

CBT interventions:

Opposite Action

Answer 30

Client is encouraged to engage in behavior that is counterintuitive or opposite to what she or he may feel at time ( e.g., when feeling very angry say something kind or decent)

Question 31

CBT interventions:

Problem-Solving Training

Answer 31

Teaches a step approach of orienting to the problem, problem definition, generation of alternatives, decision making and solution implementation and verification of results.

Question 32

CBT interventions:

Relaxation Training

Answer 32

Teaches client to relax muscles to condition a relaxation response to counter tension. Uses imagery, music, and other stimuli to assist in acquiring response.

Question 33

CBT interventions:

Successive Approximation

Answer 33

Client and therapist collaborate in developing a plan for the client to engage in steps that approximate an ultimate goal, to allow the client to have success at each step along the way to the goal.

Question 34

CBT interventions:

Three Column Technique

Answer 34

Client collects automatic thoughts and lists the situation in which the thought occurred, the automatic thought, and the associated feelings.

Question 35

CBT interventions:

Thought Record

Answer 35

Expands on the three column technique, with columns to record alternative responses to the automatic thought and behavioral or emotional outcomes of changing the thought.

Question 36

CBT Phases of Treatment:

Beginning

Answer 36

Establish safe and supportive therapeutic relationship; Complete a functional analysis to assess and define the problem and negative thought patterns; Educate and explain CBT; Set collaborative goals

Question 37

CBT interventions:

Middle

Answer 37

Identify negative thought patterns; uncover negative schemas; assign homework to self-monitor thoughts and moods and behaviors; label cognitive distortions; reframe thoughts; learn and practice new skills and behaviors.

Question 38

CBT interventions:

End

Answer 38

Review gains; identify skills learned; rehearse for new situations; anticipate future struggles.