CBT Cognitive Restructuring Flashcards

In CBT, what is a 'cognitive distortion' in the context of anger?

Answer: A biased or exaggerated thought pattern that fuels emotional reactions

Cognitive distortions are inaccurate, often automatic thought patterns that intensify emotions like anger beyond what the situation warrants.

Which technique involves a client listing evidence for and against an anger-provoking belief?

Answer: Thought record / evidence examination

A thought record prompts clients to weigh evidence for and against a belief, revealing whether it is rational or distorted.

A client believes 'Everyone at work hates me' after one colleague ignored them. This is an example of:

Answer: Overgeneralization

Overgeneralization means drawing a sweeping conclusion (everyone hates me) from a single event.

What is the primary purpose of Socratic questioning in cognitive restructuring?

Answer: To challenge irrational beliefs through guided discovery rather than direct confrontation

Socratic questioning guides clients to examine and revise their own beliefs through a series of open-ended questions.

When restructuring the belief 'I must always be respected or it is unbearable,' the therapist is targeting which Ellis concept?

Answer: Musturbatory thinking

Albert Ellis identified 'musturbatory' or absolutistic thinking ('must,' 'always') as a core irrational belief type in REBT/CBT.

A therapist asks an angry client, 'What is the worst that could realistically happen, and could you cope?' This technique is called:

Answer: Decatastrophizing

Decatastrophizing helps clients realistically evaluate worst-case scenarios and their ability to cope, reducing catastrophic anger appraisals.

Which step comes FIRST in the standard CBT cognitive restructuring sequence?

Answer: Identify the automatic thought

Identifying the automatic thought is always the first step because restructuring cannot begin until the specific thought driving the emotion is pinpointed.