Question

Decatastrophize technique in cognitive therapy involves

A. helping the client evaluate whether he is overestimating the nature of a situation.
B. helping the client distribute responsibility for events appropriately.
C. systematically examining the evidence for the client's beliefs or assertions.
D. providing the client with ways of stopping a cascade of negative thoughts

Answer 1

The decatastrophize technique in cognitive therapy helps clients evaluate whether they are overestimating a situation, encouraging them to challenge negative thinking patterns and adopt a more balanced perspective to prevent excessive anxiety and depression.

Step-by-step explanation:

The decatastrophize technique in cognitive therapy involves evaluating whether the client is overestimating the gravity of a situation and helping them to develop a more balanced perspective. This technique addresses the cognitive distortions that lead to excessive worry and anxiety by questioning and challenging the alarmist thinking patterns. It encourages a systematic assessment of the evidence supporting the client's concerns and aims to provide alternative, less catastrophic ways of interpreting events.

For example, in the case of a student who makes internal, stable, and global attributions for failing a midterm exam, a therapist might guide the student to consider external factors (like a particularly difficult set of questions), the variable nature of academic performance (unstable, meaning it can improve over time), and the specificity of the event (it does not reflect on the student's abilities in all areas). This process can help reduce the tendency to develop depression as a response to negative life events by fostering healthier attribution habits.