Behavioral Therapy - Self-Monitoring involves which of the following?

• A. A client may be asked to record thoughts during sessions.
• B. A client may be asked to observe others.
• C. A client keeps detailed accounts of a specific event or reaction, such as caloric intake or study time.
• D. A client practices deep breathing.

Answer: (C)

Self-monitoring in behavioral therapy means the client systematically records their own observable behaviors and related contextual factors outside of sessions to gather objective data on how often, how long, and under what circumstances a behavior occurs. Keeping detailed accounts of a specific event or reaction, such as caloric intake or study time, is a classic example of this. It creates a concrete record that helps both client and therapist see patterns, triggers, and progress, enabling targeted interventions and reinforcement strategies.

Other approaches described don’t fit self-monitoring as closely: recording thoughts during sessions focuses on internal cognitive content rather than observable behavior; observing others involves watching someone else rather than self-recorded data; and practicing deep breathing is a coping skill rather than systematic data collection on one’s own behavior.