Name:________________________________

Psy 23

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Assignment 7

Practical Applications: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Write a brief cognitive behavioral homework assignment for each client below. It should be at least several sentences or a brief paragraph to explain what you would assign to your client. Be sure to consider what you might need to do in the session prior to assigning the homework, so the client can be successful. Remember, gradual steps lead to better results in the long run.

Example:

The client would like to take a course in creative writing, but she fears that she has no talent. She is afraid of failing, afraid of being told that she is dumb, and afraid to follow through with taking the course. What homework might you suggest?

Example: I could explore with the client some of the automatic thoughts that she has when she thinks about her writing. She might be telling herself “I am not that good a writer, and if I take the class, I am going to be the worst writer there”. We could come up with an alternative, more helpful cognition, such as “I am working hard on my writing, and taking a class will help me become a stronger writer”.

She could practice saying this to herself several times a day. We could also discuss how she could practice getting feedback from others, under less stressful conditions – first sharing her work with a trusted friend or family member. She could also contact the professor before signing up for the class, learn more about the class, and discuss her concerns.

1. The client, a college sophomore, wants to overcome his shyness around women. He does not date and even does his best to keep away from women because he is afraid they will reject him. But he does want to change that pattern. What homework might you suggest?

2. The client says that because she feels depressed much of the time she tries to avoid facing life’s difficulties or anything about her that might make her feel more depressed. She would like to feel happy, but she is afraid of doing much. What homework might you suggest?

3. The client feels that he must win everyone’s approval. He has become a “super nice guy” who goes out of his way to please everyone. Rarely does he assert himself, for fear that he might displease someone who then would not like him. He says he would like to be less of a nice guy and be more assertive. What homework might your suggest?

4. The client continually accepts blame by telling himself how terrible he is because he does not give his wife enough attention. He feels totally to blame for the marital problems between him and his wife, and he says he cannot let go of his guilt. What homework might you suggest?

5. Each week the client comes to his sessions with a new excuse for why he has not succeeded in following through with his homework assignments. Either he forgets, gets too busy, gets scared, or puts it off – anything but actually doing something to change what he says he wants to change. Instead of really doing much of anything, he complains each week about how rotten he feels and how he so much would like to change but just doesn’t know how. What homework might you suggest?

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From: Corey, G. (2013). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy: Student Manual (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole