Question

Describe the steps involved in situational analysis (used in CBASP) by using a fictional situation.

(Meant for an abnormal psychology class, we use the textbook Understanding Abnormal Behavior 11e by David Sue if thats any help)

Answer 1

Answer.

The Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherpay or CBASP, is a form of psychotherapy first developed by James McCullough in 1984. The goal of CBASP is to direct the patient to focus on the consequences of behaviour, and to use the problem solving method so as to resolve interpersonal difficulties. the clients are assessed on the Coping Survey Questionnaire (CSQ) in between each session. These are used to document stressful or challenging interactions with other people by exploring what happened, how the client reacted, and what the client wanted to happen. therapy involves a process known as Situational Analysis (SA) in which the CSQ results are reviewed. Typically, Situation Analyses involves five steps:

1. Describe the situation

In the first step, the client is expected to describe a specific situation that occurred without editing or providing extraneous detail. The goal is for the therapist to be able to understand all of the interactions that occurred in that single instance.

2. State interpretation

In step 2, the client provides their own interpretations about what occurred during that problem interaction- moving from general to specific interpretations. For instance, a client who receives poor customer service from a cashier may state, “She wasn’t nice to me because of my gender identity” to provide two or three thoughts that occurred during the interaction, or asking the client what the situation meant to them in the moment.

The most effective interpretations are those that lead to the desired outcome (DO), which the client wished had happened in that situation.

3.Identify reactions

In step 3, the client records all of their own behaviours and reactions- tone of voice, body language, pace, the client may have had such as walking away from the situation with the customer service. This allows the client to identify ways for changing behaviours to more easily reach the desired outcome.

Step 4. Explain the desired outcome (DO)

In the fourth step, the client explains the Desired Outcome (DO). The therapist can ask, “What were you trying to get out of this situation?” The Desired outcomes should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. In defining their desired goals upon completing each CSQ, the client would have greater control over his own reactions and responses.

5. Illustrate the actual outcome (AO)

The actual outcome (AO) is the final step and it explores what the client actually got out of the experience. If the client reports that he was unable to attain the goal of changing the cashier’s response towards him, then he may have a negative experience . The aim of the therapist then is to lead the client to experience a more positive Actula outcome by leading the client to identify what went right and how they can repeat this in the future.

In this way, the CBASP therapist leads the client towards systematic, and more positive appraisals of problems and generate resilient solutions in the course of the therapy.