Exercise #1 The Way I Think This exercise was designed to illustrate the different type of cognitive therapy techniques conducted in therapy sessions. Write out the following statement on the blackboard and repeat it out loud: "I often worry about _______."Have each student answer the question. Ask them why the answer bothers them so much. Examine the statement to see if the cause of worry is logical or unrealistic. Help them expose any beliefs that are irrational or based on societal influences.Exercise #2 Life Facts People often think and act a certain way due to their life experiences. That is why during intake interviews and therapy sessions, clients are often asked to state facts about their lives.As a classroom exercise, have each student write down four different facts about his or her life. Facts might include things that have happened to them, personal history information, details about their family or descriptions of their personality.Examine each student's answers and discuss the following questions:What does the list say about you?Are there any facts that might actually be untrue?Does the list reveal anything about your personality?Is there any important information excluded from the list? Exercise #3 Bomb Shelter This exercise was designed to help students realize the way their own upbringing and place in society influences the way they view other people.The year is 2080. A nuclear war has occurred. There are 13 people living in a bomb shelter and there is only enough oxygen left for nine people to survive. The class must decide as a majority who gets to stay and which four people must leave. Remember to tell the class that the remaining nine people in the bomb shelter will go on to create an entire new society on earth.The list of 13 people includes:A 35-year-old black poet who is unmarriedA 12-year-old boyA young doctor who is HIV positiveA Catholic priestA 16-year-old high school dropout who is highly intelligent and possibly pregnantA female electrical engineer who graduated from college two years agoA famous male singer who is a recovered alcoholicA reformed prostitute who is now college professor and the mother of twoAn armed policeman who will not relinquish his gunA 50-year-old female scientist who specializes in biology and plant lifeThe husband of the scientist who is addicted to cocaineA male computer programmerA professional athlete

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