Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Practice Exam

What is 'de-catastrophizing' primarily used for in therapy?

1. To encourage clients to embrace their fears

2. To challenge catastrophic expectations

3. To teach clients to ignore their problems

4. To validate clients' negative beliefs

The correct answer is: To challenge catastrophic expectations

De-catastrophizing is primarily utilized in therapy to help clients challenge catastrophic expectations, which are often exaggerated negative thoughts about potential outcomes. This technique is rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy, where the therapist assists clients in identifying irrational beliefs that lead them to envision dire scenarios, often leading to increased anxiety and distress. By guiding clients to explore alternative, more realistic interpretations of their situation, de-catastrophizing helps them reframe their thoughts. This process allows individuals to reduce anxiety associated with exaggerated fears, leading to a more balanced perspective on their experiences. It empowers clients by restructuring their thinking patterns and fostering resilience against anxiety-provoking thoughts. In contrast, other approaches such as encouraging clients to embrace their fears or ignoring problems do not address the cognitive distortions at play. Additionally, validating clients' negative beliefs would reinforce these harmful thought patterns rather than challenge them, failing to foster cognitive restructuring. Thus, focusing on challenging catastrophic expectations is central to the de-catastrophizing process.