Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) Practice Exam

What statement best reflects a client overgeneralizing in their fitness journey?

1. "Even when I exercise regularly, I never seem to lose weight and reach my goals."

2. "I'm a failure at weight loss, as I always ruin my diet by eating out on weekends."

3. "Even if this workout routine gets me stronger, I'll just slip back into my old routines, like I always do."

4. "No one in my family thinks I'll be able to stick with this exercise plan."

The correct answer is: "Even when I exercise regularly, I never seem to lose weight and reach my goals."

The statement "Even when I exercise regularly, I never seem to lose weight and reach my goals" highlights a common cognitive distortion known as overgeneralization. In this context, overgeneralization occurs when a person makes a broad conclusion based on limited experiences or evidence. This particular statement reflects the client’s tendency to think that their efforts in exercising regularly are futile because they haven’t achieved the specific results of weight loss and goal attainment. The phrase "I never seem to lose weight" indicates a sweeping judgment that disregards any positive outcomes or progress made in their fitness journey. Such thinking can lead to a lack of motivation and discourage persistence, as the individual feels defeated by their perceived lack of success. The other statements also contain elements of negative thinking but don’t exhibit the same clear pattern of overgeneralization. For example, claiming “I always ruin my diet by eating out on weekends” suggests a belief linked to specific behaviors rather than a broad conclusion about their overall journey. The remark about slipping back into old routines acknowledges past patterns but does not imply a universal failure, and the comment regarding family perception pertains more to external opinions instead of personal experience or outcomes. Thus, the correct response succinctly encapsulates a generalized belief that undermines the individual’s