Official Instructions:
The Why – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an evidenced-based strategy used widely with individuals in a variety of settings. One of the key elements of doing CBT is the use of Thought Records. In this exercise, you will be gaining familiarity with using a thought record.
The Hope – By using the thought records, you will be able to explain to clients in practice how to use a thought record, the purpose of using a thought record, and what the benefits are to keeping them.
The How – For this practice assignment, you will give up something that you love for one week. I know that doesn’t sound like a long time but as any student who has taken the Addiction course with me in summer will tell you, it is not easy and they do it for 28 days. The first thing that you thought of when reading this is probably the thing you should give up. As soon as you put it in your mind, get out the thought record template and keep track of those thoughts that come with the intensive emotion that you may feel about this. Complete the thought record throughout the week. You can give up either a substance (coffee, soda, sweets, etc) or a behavior (Being on Facebook, watching television, etc). Your thought record can record other situations outside of the giving up the substance/behavior. For example: An argument with someone, road rage, feeling overwhelmed about school work. Whatever it is, record it on this worksheet. Then pick one of the thoughts to do the challenging worksheet. Submit both of these completed documents. You can type or handwrite but if you handwrite, make sure it is legible. This practice assignment does not require a video demonstration, however, if you want to gain further benefit, go ahead and meet as a group and review your challenging worksheet together and discuss the experience. If you turn the video recording in, I’ll award up to 5 extra points to each group member who shares.
The substance for this exercise that will be given up is energy drinks. Use withdrawal symptoms and behaviors associated with giving up energy drinks for the two worksheets. I have attached the textbook, powerpoint lecture and cognitive social model of relapse prevention docs for reference and info. The other two attached documents are the ones that will need to be completed for this assignment – thought record and challenging thoughts. Please reach out if you have any questions.