Which of the following scenarios is consistent with the behavioral therapeutic approach?

• A. A therapist explores a client's unconscious motives through dream analysis.
• B. A therapist uses positive reinforcement to encourage a client to attend social events.
• C. A therapist helps a client challenge irrational beliefs about themselves.
• D. A therapist asks a client to discuss childhood experiences to uncover repressed memories.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the behavioral therapeutic approach focuses on observable behaviors and how they can be modified through learning principles such as reinforcement and punishment.
2. Identify that behavioral therapy does not typically involve exploring unconscious motives or repressed memories, which are more aligned with psychoanalytic or psychodynamic approaches.
3. Recognize that cognitive therapy focuses on challenging irrational beliefs, which is different from the behavioral approach that emphasizes changing behavior directly.
4. Look for the scenario that involves modifying behavior through reinforcement, such as using positive reinforcement to encourage desired behaviors.
5. Conclude that the scenario where a therapist uses positive reinforcement to encourage a client to attend social events aligns with the behavioral therapeutic approach.