This document discusses Donald Meichenbaum's cognitive behavior modification approach. It focuses on changing a client's self-talk by teaching them to observe their behaviors, start a new internal dialogue with more adaptive alternatives, and learn effective coping skills. Meichenbaum's approach involves helping clients examine anxiety-provoking thoughts by reevaluating self-statements and applying coping techniques to stressful situations through role playing and imagery exercises.

1. DONALD MEICHENBAUM’S
COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR
MODIFICATION
Submitted to:
Prof. Agnes Montalbo
Rizal Technological University
Submitted by:
John Christopher G. Retanan

2. Ü It is an alternative to Rational
Emotive Behavior Therapy.
Ü It focuses on changing the client’s
self-verbalizations.
Ü According to Meichenbaum, self-
statements affect a person’s behavior
in much the same way as statements
made by another person.

3.  organizing aspect of thinking,
which seems to monitor and direct
the choice of thoughts
 it implies an “executive
processor” which “holds the
blueprints of thinking”

4. He proposes that “behavior change
occurs through a sequence of
mediating processes involving the
interaction of inner speech,
cognitive structures and behaviors
and their resultant outcomes”

6. The beginning step
in the change
process consists of
clients learning how
to observe their own
behavior.

7. PHASE 2
Starting a new internal
dialogue
As a result of the early client-therapist
contacts, clients learn to notice their
maladaptive behaviors and they begin to
see opportunities for adaptive behavioral
alternatives.

8. The third phase of the
modification process
consists of teaching
clients more effective
coping skills, which are
practiced in real-life
situations.

9. The rationale for coping skills
programs is that we can acquire
more effective strategies in dealing
with stressful situations by learning
how to modify our cognitive ”set” or
our core values. The procedures
are as follows:

10. Exposing clients to anxiety-provoking situations
by means of role playing and imagery.
..............................................................................
Requiring clients to evaluate their anxiety level.
.............................................................................
Teaching clients to become aware of the anxiety-
provoking cognitions they experience on stressful
situations.
..............................................................................
Helping clients examine these thoughts by
reevaluating their self-statements.
Having clients note the level of anxiety following
this reevaluation.

11. Stress Inoculation Training
(SIT)
Consists of a combination of
information giving, Socratic discussion,
cognitive restructuring, problem solving,
relaxation training, behavioral
rehearsals, self-monitoring, self-
instruction, self-reinforcement and
modifying environmental situations.

12. Conceptual-Educational Phase
********************************************************************************
Skills acquisition, Consolidation and
Rehearsal Phase
**********************************************************************************
Application and Follow-through
Phase

13. The primary focus is on
creating a working
relationship with clients.
This is mainly done by
helping them gain a better
understanding of the
nature of the stress and
reconceptualizing it in

14. The focus is on giving clients a variety
of behavioral and cognitive coping
techniques to apply to stressful
situations.

15. The focus is on carefully arranging for
transfer and maintenance of change from
the therapeutic situation to everyday life.

16. Meichenbaum has developed this approach
by incorporating the Constructivist
Narrative Perspective (CNP) – focuses on
the stories people tell about themselves
and others regarding significant events in

18. Ellis believes that an essential part of
people’s lives is group living and that
their happiness depends largely on the
quality of their functioning within their
community.
REBT stresses the relationship of
individuals to the family, community and
other systems.

19. Shortcomings
From a Diversity
Perspective
One of the shortcomings of
applying CBT to diverse cultures
pertains to the hesitation of some
clients to question their basic
cultural values.