Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Practice Examination

What approach is associated with stress inoculation treatment?

1. Mindfulness-based therapy

2. Self-instructional training

3. Exposure therapy

4. Cognitive restructuring

The correct answer is: Self-instructional training

Stress inoculation treatment is primarily associated with self-instructional training. This approach is designed to help individuals prepare for stressors by teaching them coping skills and self-talk strategies that they can use in challenging situations. The premise of stress inoculation is that by gradually exposing clients to stressors and equipping them with cognitive and behavioral tools to manage their reactions, they'll be better prepared to handle stress in real-life circumstances. In self-instructional training, clients learn to instruct themselves through stressful situations with positive affirmations and coping statements, thereby developing a sense of control and resilience. This technique is often utilized within the broader framework of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Other approaches, such as mindfulness-based therapy, exposure therapy, and cognitive restructuring, while beneficial in their own right, do not specifically emphasize the self-instructional component as a foundational aspect like self-instructional training does in the context of stress inoculation.