Behavioral Modification Techniques Flashcards

A post-surgical client eats rapidly and experiences dumping syndrome. Which behavioral strategy directly targets eating pace?

Answer: Putting utensils down between bites

Setting utensils down between bites slows eating pace, reducing overload of the small pouch.

Which of the following is an example of covert antecedent to problem eating that a counselor should help a client identify?

Answer: Feeling lonely on weekend evenings

Covert antecedents are internal states like emotions, unlike visible environmental cues such as food displays.

A counselor teaches a client to replace "I'm a failure at dieting" with "I had a difficult day and can restart at my next meal." This technique is:

Answer: Cognitive restructuring

Identifying and replacing maladaptive thoughts with balanced alternatives is cognitive restructuring.

Breaking the goal of "exercise regularly" into first walking 5 minutes daily, then 10, then 20, illustrates which behavioral principle?

Answer: Shaping

Shaping reinforces successive approximations toward a target behavior.

Which counselor action best supports a client experiencing weight-loss plateau frustration six months after surgery?

Answer: Reviewing non-scale victories and reinforcing adherence behaviors

Shifting focus to behavior-based and non-scale successes maintains motivation during expected plateaus.

A client who night-eats keeps a log revealing the behavior follows evening arguments with her spouse. Identifying this pattern is part of which process?

Answer: Functional analysis of behavior

Functional analysis identifies the antecedents, behaviors, and consequences that maintain a habit.

Which statement by a client represents "change talk" that the counselor should reinforce?

Answer: "I could probably prep my lunches on Sundays."

Statements expressing ability or intention to change are change talk, which counselors selectively reinforce.