CBT Techniques and Intervention Strategies 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which technique involves the therapist guiding the client to conduct a real-world test of a negative prediction to gather empirical data?
- Thought suppression experiment
- Behavioral experiment (Correct answer)
- Imaginal exposure
- Cognitive rehearsal
Correct answer: Behavioral experiment
Behavioral experiments are hypothesis-testing activities designed to gather direct evidence that challenges or confirms a client's dysfunctional belief.
Question 2: The 'downward arrow' (vertical arrow) technique is primarily used to:
- Build a fear hierarchy for exposure
- Uncover core beliefs underlying automatic thoughts (Correct answer)
- Track mood ratings across the week
- Assign behavioral activation tasks in sequence
Correct answer: Uncover core beliefs underlying automatic thoughts
The downward arrow technique repeatedly asks 'What would that mean about you?' to drill beneath surface automatic thoughts and reveal underlying core beliefs.
Question 3: A therapist helps a client with OCD refrain from hand-washing after touching a doorknob. This intervention combines exposure with:
- Response prevention (Correct answer)
- Relaxation training
- Cognitive restructuring
- Behavioral activation
Correct answer: Response prevention
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) pairs confronting the feared stimulus with blocking the compulsive ritual, allowing anxiety to habituate naturally.
Question 4: A therapist uses role-play in which they model assertive communication and then the client practices it. This technique is BEST labeled:
- Behavior rehearsal with modeling (Correct answer)
- Flooding
- Systematic desensitization
- Cognitive defusion
Correct answer: Behavior rehearsal with modeling
Behavior rehearsal with modeling combines therapist demonstration with client practice to develop and reinforce new skills in a safe environment.
Question 5: In CBT for depression, 'activity scheduling' primarily targets which maintaining factor?
- Cognitive distortions about the future
- Behavioral withdrawal and reduced reinforcement (Correct answer)
- Hypervigilance to physical sensations
- Avoidance of traumatic memories
Correct answer: Behavioral withdrawal and reduced reinforcement
Activity scheduling counters the behavioral withdrawal cycle by re-engaging clients in pleasurable and mastery activities to restore positive reinforcement.
Question 6: A therapist instructs the client to rate their anxiety on a 0–10 scale before, during, and after exposure tasks. This is BEST described as:
- Subjective units of distress (SUDS) monitoring (Correct answer)
- Behavioral avoidance test
- Safety behavior mapping
- Symptom validity testing
Correct answer: Subjective units of distress (SUDS) monitoring
SUDS monitoring uses a numerical scale to track anxiety levels across exposure trials, helping both therapist and client observe habituation.
Question 7: Which technique involves identifying specific thoughts that precede angry outbursts and replacing them with more balanced self-talk before responding?
- Anger inoculation training (Correct answer)
- Covert sensitization
- Thought stopping
- Flooding
Correct answer: Anger inoculation training
Anger inoculation training (stress inoculation applied to anger) teaches clients to catch anger-provoking thoughts and use coping self-statements before reacting.
CBT Techniques and Intervention Strategies 3
Which technique involves the therapist guiding the client to conduct a real-world test of a negative prediction to gather empirical data?