Behavioral Counseling Techniques Flashcards
7 cards from real CBC 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 Counseling Techniques flashcards as text
Six months after surgery, a patient's weight loss plateaus and motivation drops. Which counseling strategy best re-engages the patient?
Answer: Reviewing original values and goals to reconnect motivation with behavior
Revisiting personal values and goals rebuilds intrinsic motivation, which is key for sustaining behavior through plateaus.
A patient consistently eats when bored in the evening. Using functional analysis (the ABC model), the counselor first identifies the:
Answer: Antecedent that triggers the eating behavior
Functional analysis begins by identifying the antecedent, then the behavior and its consequences, to understand what maintains the pattern.
Which is an example of an open-ended question a bariatric counselor would use to explore eating habits?
Answer: "What does a typical evening of eating look like for you?"
Open-ended questions invite detailed narrative responses rather than yes-or-no answers.
A patient masters keeping a food log, then adds portion measuring, then adds meal prepping over successive weeks. This gradual building of behavior is called:
Answer: Shaping through successive approximations
Shaping reinforces incremental steps that progressively approximate the full target behavior.
A patient reports drinking alcohol more frequently since bariatric surgery to cope with stress. The counselor's most appropriate first step is to:
Answer: Assess the substance use and explore healthier coping strategies, considering referral if indicated
Post-bariatric patients have elevated risk for alcohol use disorder, so assessment, coping-skill work, and possible referral are essential.
Which statement by a counselor is an affirmation, a core motivational interviewing skill?
Answer: "You showed real commitment by logging every meal this week despite a stressful schedule."
Affirmations genuinely recognize the patient's strengths and efforts without backhanded criticism or comparison.
A patient rehearses politely declining dessert at an upcoming family gathering during a counseling session. This technique is known as:
Answer: Behavioral rehearsal or role-playing
Behavioral rehearsal lets patients practice new skills in a safe setting before facing the real situation.