A 22-year-old woman is seeing the PMHNP for the second time this week. At her last visit, she told the nurse practitioner she was the "best therapist in the whole world!" This week, however, the client says the PMHNP is "seriously the most horrible therapist in the universe." The patient talks in extremes and seems to see the world in black and white. Which modality helps clients understand that two opposing ideas can both be true?
Existential therapy
Humanistic therapy
Dialectical behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: Existential therapy focuses on exploring meaning, freedom, and responsibility. While it encourages clients to confront contradictions in life, it does not specifically teach the concept of dialectical thinking or how to hold opposing truths simultaneously.
Choice B reason: Humanistic therapy emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and empathy. It fosters acceptance and understanding but does not directly address the cognitive distortions or dichotomous thinking seen in borderline personality disorder.
Choice C reason: Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) was developed specifically for individuals with borderline personality disorder. It teaches clients to accept two opposing ideas at once—such as “I am doing the best I can” and “I need to try harder”—and helps reduce black-and-white thinking. DBT is the most appropriate modality for this presentation.
Choice D reason: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) targets distorted thinking and maladaptive behaviors. While it is effective for many disorders, it does not emphasize dialectical reasoning as a core principle like DBT does.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: DBT aims to improve emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness, which includes enhancing accurate communication of emotions and competencies. Decreasing such communication is contrary to DBT goals.
Choice B reason: Self-invalidation is a maladaptive behavior often seen in BPD. DBT works to reduce self-invalidation and promote self-acceptance and validation.
Choice C reason: A core goal of DBT is to decrease emotional reactivity by teaching mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation skills. This helps clients respond to emotional triggers more adaptively.
Choice D reason: DBT seeks to reduce crisis-generating behaviors such as self-harm and impulsivity. Increasing such behaviors would be counterproductive and is not a therapeutic goal.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a structured, time-limited approach that focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and social functioning to alleviate depressive symptoms. It targets role transitions, grief, interpersonal disputes, and social deficits.
Choice B reason: Psychoanalysis is a long-term, intensive therapy that explores unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences. It is not time-limited and does not specifically focus on interpersonal issues related to depression.
Choice C reason: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) addresses distorted thinking and maladaptive behaviors. While effective for depression, it does not primarily focus on interpersonal relationships.
Choice D reason: Supportive therapy provides emotional support and encouragement but lacks the structured, targeted approach of IPT. It is not specifically designed to address interpersonal factors in depression.
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