CBC Behavioral Counseling Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient states, "I already know the surgery will fix everything, so I don't need to change how I eat." Which stage of change does this best reflect regarding behavioral modification?
- Preparation
- Maintenance
- Precontemplation (Correct answer)
- Action
Correct answer: Precontemplation
Precontemplation is marked by no intention to change behavior, often because the person does not see the behavior as a problem.
Question 2: During a session, a patient says, "Maybe I could try packing lunch instead of eating fast food." Which motivational interviewing response best reinforces this change talk?
- "Tell me more about how packing lunch might work for you." (Correct answer)
- "Let's move on to your exercise plan."
- "Fast food is terrible for you, so yes, stop it."
- "Are you sure you'd actually follow through?"
Correct answer: "Tell me more about how packing lunch might work for you."
Elaborating on change talk with open questions strengthens the patient's own motivation and commitment.
Question 3: Which cognitive distortion is a patient displaying when they say, "I ate one cookie, so my whole diet is ruined and I might as well binge"?
- Personalization
- Emotional reasoning
- All-or-nothing thinking (Correct answer)
- Mind reading
Correct answer: All-or-nothing thinking
All-or-nothing (dichotomous) thinking frames a small lapse as total failure, often triggering the abstinence violation effect.
Question 4: In relapse prevention counseling, a single episode of overeating that does not return the patient to old habits is best described as a:
- Collapse
- Relapse
- Extinction event
- Lapse (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Lapse
A lapse is a brief, isolated slip, whereas a relapse is a full return to previous behavior patterns.
Question 5: A counselor teaching a patient to eat slowly, put the fork down between bites, and notice fullness cues is using which approach?
- Paradoxical intention
- Flooding
- Aversive conditioning
- Mindful eating training (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Mindful eating training
Mindful eating trains nonjudgmental attention to hunger, satiety, and the eating experience to reduce overeating.
Question 6: Which goal best meets SMART criteria for a bariatric counseling patient?
- "Try to eat better whenever possible"
- "Get healthier soon"
- "Walk 20 minutes after dinner, five days a week, for the next month" (Correct answer)
- "Exercise a lot more"
Correct answer: "Walk 20 minutes after dinner, five days a week, for the next month"
It is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, unlike the vague alternatives.
Question 7: A patient becomes defensive when the counselor pushes for faster dietary changes. According to motivational interviewing, the counselor should:
- End the session until the patient is ready
- Warn the patient about surgical complications
- Repeat the recommendation more firmly
- Roll with resistance and avoid direct argumentation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Roll with resistance and avoid direct argumentation
Rolling with resistance avoids power struggles and keeps the patient engaged in exploring change on their own terms.
CBC Behavioral Counseling Techniques 3
A patient states, "I already know the surgery will fix everything, so I don't need to change how I eat." Which stage of change does this best reflect regarding behavioral modification?