CBT 101
CBT stands for what?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
A client says their family is involved in most major life decisions. The therapist says, “Part of becoming healthier is learning to make decisions independently from your family.” Is this culturally responsive or non-culturally responsive CBT?
Non-culturally responsive CBT.
The therapist is treating independence as the “healthy” norm instead of exploring the client’s own cultural values around family, interdependence, and community.
A client is feeling overwhelmed and takes a few slow breaths before responding to a stressful situation. What coping strategy are they using?
Deep breathing/grounding.
A group of coworkers is planning to grab dinner after work. Sofia hears about it but no one directly invites her. She feels upset and thinks that no one wants her there and is being left out on purpose. She begins to act distant the next day. Think back to the CBT triangle and identify the thought Sofia has.
“They don’t want Sofia there” or that she is “being left out on purpose”
CBT is a form of therapy that focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings and what?
Behaviors
A client says they feel anxious speaking at work because coworkers have made comments about their accent. The therapist acknowledges the discrimination, asks how those experiences have affected the client, and works with them to identify coping strategies that fit their goals. Is this culturally responsive or non-culturally responsive CBT?
Culturally responsive CBT.
The therapist does not automatically locate the problem inside the client and considers the social environment contributing to their distress.
If someone is feeling stressed, which is generally more helpful: avoiding all responsibilities or breaking them into smaller steps?
Breaking them into smaller, manageable steps.
A close friend of Jason cancels dinner plans with him at the last minute saying something came up. He thinks, “I’m not a priority to them.” He feels disappointed and ignores his friend when he tries to reschedule. Think back to the CBT triangle and identify the feeling Jason has.
Disappointment
In CBT, this is a thought that happens quickly in response to a situation and may occur without much conscious effort.
An automatic thought
A bilingual client says they feel more comfortable talking about emotions in Spanish. The therapist says, “We should keep sessions in English so you can practice expressing yourself more clearly.” Is this culturally responsive or non-culturally responsive CBT?
Non-culturally responsive CBT.
The therapist is prioritizing their own idea of how therapy should happen instead of centering the client’s language, comfort, and way of expressing themselves.
Why might someone use a coping strategy instead of immediately reacting to a stressful situation?
To create space to manage their emotions and respond more thoughtfully.
Tiffany forgot to pay her bill on time and received a late fee. She thinks, “I’m so careless, I can’t get anything right.” She feels shame, and avoids checking her finances for the rest of the month because it is too upsetting. Think back to the CBT triangle and identify the behavior Tiffany had.
Avoided checking her finances because it was too upsetting.
A friend doesn’t respond to a text for several hours. The client thinks, “They’re mad at me.” In CBT, what is the text going unanswered, and what is “They’re mad at me”?
The unanswered text is the situation. “They’re mad at me” is the automatic thought.
A client says prayer, family support, and traditional cultural practices help them cope with stress. The therapist asks how those practices support the client and works with them to include those strengths alongside CBT coping skills. Is this culturally responsive or non-culturally responsive CBT?
Culturally responsive CBT.
The therapist is not treating Western therapy as the only valid way of healing and is incorporating the client’s cultural strengths and existing sources of support.
What is the difference between a healthy coping strategy and an unhealthy coping strategy?
A healthy coping strategy helps manage stress without creating additional problems, while an unhealthy strategy may provide temporary relief but cause harm or make the situation worse.
Corbin shares an idea during a team meeting, but no one responds and the topic is changed. Corbin thinks, “That wasn’t a good idea.” He feels embarrassed, and stays quiet for the rest of the meeting. Identify the thought, feeling, and behavior.
Thought: “That wasn’t a good idea”
Feeling: Embarrassed
Behavior: Stayed quiet for the rest of the meeting