Behavioral Activation Strategies Flashcards
7 cards from real CBT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Behavioral Activation Strategies flashcards as text
In behavioral activation, what does the term 'avoidance' primarily refer to?
Answer: Behaviors that provide short-term relief but maintain depression long-term
Avoidance in BA refers to behaviors that temporarily reduce distress but reinforce depressive cycles by preventing engagement with rewarding activities.
Which concept describes the relationship between mood and activity in behavioral activation?
Answer: The outside-in principle
The outside-in principle holds that acting first (even without motivation) can shift mood, rather than waiting to feel better before acting.
A client with depression reports that they used to enjoy cooking but stopped months ago. The best BA next step is to:
Answer: Schedule a small, manageable cooking task for the coming week
BA prioritizes scheduling graded activities that reconnect clients with previously enjoyed behaviors, starting with manageable steps.
What is the purpose of tracking both activities and mood ratings simultaneously in BA?
Answer: To help clients identify patterns between what they do and how they feel
Simultaneous tracking reveals functional relationships between specific activities and mood, informing which behaviors to increase or decrease.
Which scheduling principle is MOST important when first introducing behavioral activation to a depressed client?
Answer: Begin with low-effort, achievable activities to build success experiences
Graded task assignment begins with achievable activities to create early successes that counteract hopelessness and build momentum.
A client says 'I'll do the activity when I feel like it.' How should a BA therapist respond?
Answer: Explain that waiting for motivation is itself an avoidance behavior that maintains depression
In BA, waiting for motivation is conceptualized as passive avoidance; action precedes motivation rather than following it.
What distinguishes 'values-based activation' from simple pleasant event scheduling in BA?
Answer: It aligns activities with the client's personal values rather than just immediate pleasure
Values-based activation connects scheduled behaviors to what the client finds personally meaningful, improving motivation and long-term engagement.