CBT/CBFT

Question 1

Functional Assessment

(CBFT)

Answer 1

CBFT therapists conduct this assessment around areas of dissatisfaction, focusing on not only the problem behavior but the other partner’s response to that behavior.

In addition, the therapist takes a relationship history, which includes early attraction, dating, development of the problem, and the current situation.

Question 2

Baseline Assessment

(CBFT)

Answer 2

This assessment provides a starting point for measuring change; clients log the frequency, duration, and severity of specific behavioral symptoms, such as tantrums, anger, social withdrawal, or conflict.

Question 3

Cognitive Distortions

(CBFT)

Answer 3

Beliefs that are not entirely accurate and create distress for clients, such as the belief that one must be perfect to be loved.

Question 4

Schemas

(CBFT)

Answer 4

Refer to long-held basic assumptions about how the world and relationships work and a person’s place in it.

Question 5

Measurable Goal Setting

(CBFT)

Answer 5

Goals are stated in behavioral and measurable terms, such as “reduce arguments to no more than one per month.” When working with couples and families, therapists use their authoritative role to identify goals that are agreeable to all.

Immediately after clear goals are agreed upon, therapists also obtain a commitment from the couple or family to follow instructions and complete out-of-therapy assignments, often with a written contract.

Question 6

Measuring Progress

(CBFT)

Answer 6

Therapists have two general options for this:

1. Non-standardized measures, the client’s and therapist’s subjective reports of progress; usually verbal.
2. Standardized measures, which are rigorously designed and normed assessments that track specific psychological variables; usually written or digital multiple-choice forms.

Question 7

Classical Conditioning

(CBFT)

Answer 7

Process in which a stimulus and response become conditioned by repeated pairing; used by Pavlov in pairing a metronome and dog food with dogs.

Question 8

Operant Conditioning

(Reinforcement/Punishment) (CBFT)

Answer 8

Interventions based on this use the principles identified by B. F. Skinner (1953) to modify human behavior, whether one’s own or another’s. The essential principle is to reward behavior in the direction of the desired behavior using small, incremental steps, a process called shaping behavior.

Once a certain set of skills has been mastered, the bar is raised for which behavior will be reinforced (positively and/or negatively), with ever-closer approximations to the desired behavior.

Question 9

Contingency Contracting

(CBFT)

Answer 9

Can be used to promote new behaviors by creating a contingency that must be met to receive a desired reward. Parents can use contingency contracting with children that detail how privileges will be earned and lost.

Question 10

Behavior (Mutual Behavior) Exchange/Quid Pro Quo

(CBFT)

Answer 10

These exchanges – called “this for that” arrangements – can be useful to help the partners negotiate relational rules.

e.g., “If you make dinner, I will do the dishes”

Question 11

Immediacy in Behavioral Training

(CBT)

Answer 11

The more immediate the reinforcement or punishment, the quicker the learning.

Used in Operant Conditioning.

Question 12

Communication/Problem Solving Training

(CBFT)

Answer 12

Used to help couples and families solve their problems by training communication using the following guidelines:

• Begin with the positive
• Single Subject
• Specific, behavioral problems
• Describe impact
• Take Responsibility
• Paraphrase
• Avoid Mind reading
• Disallow verbal abuse

Question 13

Psychoeducation

(CBT)

Answer 13

Involves teaching clients psychological and relational principles about their problems and how to best handle them.

Examples: Problem-oriented, change-oriented, bibliotherapy, and cinema therapy

Question 14

Consistency

(CBT)

Answer 14

The more consistent the reinforcement or punishment, the quicker the learning.

Used in Operant Conditioning.

Question 15

Positive Reinforcement/Reward

(CBT)

Answer 15

Rewarding desired behaviors by adding something desirable.

Question 16

Negative Reinforcement

(CBT)

Answer 16

Rewarding desired behaviors by removing something undesirable.

Question 17

Positive Punishment

(CBT)

Answer 17

Reduces undesirable behavior by adding something undesirable.

Question 18

Negative Punishment

(CBT)

Answer 18

Reduces undesirable behavior by removing something desirable.

Question 19

Intermittent Reinforcement

(CBT)

Answer 19

Often increases undesired behaviors; random positive reinforcement of well-established desired behaviors helps sustain them.

Used in Operant Conditioning.

Question 20

Point Charts and Token Economies

(CBT)

Answer 20

Used to shape and reward positive behaviors by allowing individuals to build up points that they can apply to privileges, treats, or purchases.

Question 21

Schemas and Core Beliefs

Answer 21

• Arbitrary Inference
• Selective Abstraction
• Overgeneralization
• Magnification and Minimization
• Personalization
• Dichotomous Thinking
• Mislabeling
• Mind-Reading

Question 22

Challenging Irrational Beliefs

(CBT)

Answer 22

Involves confronting unhelpful beliefs that are creating or sustaining the problem.

Question 23

Mind Reading

(CBT)

Answer 23

Believing you know what the other is thinking or will do based on assumptions and generalizations; becomes a significant barrier to communication.

Question 24

Selective Perceptions

(CBT)

Answer 24

Focusing on certain events or information to the exclusion of others.

Question 25

Mislabeling | (CBT)

Answer 25

Assigning a **personality trait** to someone based on a handful of incidents, often **ignoring exceptions**.

Question 26

Dichotomous Thinking

Answer 26

**All-or-nothing** thinking: always/never, success/failure, or good/bad.

Question 27

Personalization | (CBT)

Answer 27

A particular form of arbitrary influence in which external events are **attributed to oneself**; especially common in intimate relationships.

Question 28

Overgeneralization | (CBT)

Answer 28

Generalizing one or two incidents to make a **broad sweeping judgment** about another's essential character.

Question 29

Selective Abstraction | (CBT)

Answer 29

**Focusing on one detail** while ignoring the context and other obvious details.

Question 30

Arbitrary Inference | (CBT)

Answer 30

A belief and/or drawing a conclusion based on **little evidence**.

Question 31

Magnification and Minimization | (CBT)

Answer 31

Going to either **extreme** of overemphasizing or under-emphasizing based on the facts.

Question 32

Direct Confrontation | (CBT)

Answer 32

One of two ways a therapist challenges a client's irrational beliefs: The client is **explicitly told** that the belief is irrational.

Question 33

Indirect Confrontation | (CBT)

Answer 33

One of two ways a therapist challenges a client's irrational beliefs: The therapist **uses a series of questions** to help the client see how the belief or idea is irrational and/or contributing to the creation of the problem.

Question 34

Socratic Dialogue | (CBT)

Answer 34

A series of open-ended questions that helps clients empirically **test their core beliefs**. Clients form hypotheses about their behavior through observation and monitoring.

Question 35

Thought Records | (CBT/ REBT)

Answer 35

**Structured journaling**, clients analyze their own cognitions and behavior and develop more adaptive responses.

Question 36

Bibliotherapy | (CBT)

Answer 36

Assigning clients readings that will be (a) **motivating**, and (b) **instructional** for dealing with their presenting problem.

Question 37

Cinema Therapy | (CBT)

Answer 37

Assigning clients to watch a movie that will **speak to the problem issues**.

Question 38

In Vivo Exposure

Answer 38

A behavioral therapy method that consists of **direct exposure** to a feared or avoided situation or stimulus.

Question 39

Flooding

Answer 39

A treatment for phobias in which clients are **exposed repeatedly and intensively** to a feared object and made to see that it is actually harmless.

Question 40

Systematic Desensitization

Answer 40

A type of exposure therapy that associates a **pleasant relaxed state** with gradually increasing anxiety-triggering stimuli. Commonly used to treat phobias.

Question 41

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Answer 41

* Criticism * Defensiveness * Contempt * Stonewalling