Identifying & Reframing False Beliefs Flashcards

A client says, 'If I make one mistake at work, I'll lose my job and everything will fall apart.' Which cognitive distortion does this best illustrate?

Answer: Catastrophizing

Catastrophizing involves magnifying the importance of a negative event and assuming the worst-case scenario will occur.

Which technique involves helping a client examine concrete evidence both for and against a held belief?

Answer: Socratic questioning

Socratic questioning guides clients to examine evidence objectively, weakening the grip of false beliefs.

A client believes, 'Everyone at the party thought I was boring.' This is an example of:

Answer: Mind reading

Mind reading involves assuming you know what others are thinking without actual evidence.

When reframing a belief, the therapist's primary goal is to:

Answer: Help the client develop a more balanced and evidence-based perspective

Reframing aims to shift perspective toward a balanced, realistic view rather than simply swapping negative for positive.

A client insists they 'always' fail, despite recent successes. Which intervention is most appropriate first?

Answer: Reviewing a timeline of actual outcomes

Reviewing actual outcomes directly challenges overgeneralized thinking with concrete counterevidence.

The belief 'I must be perfect or I am a failure' reflects which core cognitive distortion?

Answer: Dichotomous thinking

Dichotomous (all-or-nothing) thinking places experiences in only two extreme categories with no middle ground.

A therapist asks, 'What would you tell a close friend who had this same belief?' This technique is called:

Answer: The friend/advisor perspective shift

The friend/advisor perspective shift helps clients access a more compassionate, balanced view they can apply to themselves.