1. The client, a college sophomore, wants to overcome his shyness around women. He does not date and even does his best to keep away from women because he is afraid they will reject him. But he does want to change that pattern. What homework might you suggest?
2. The client says that because she feels depressed much of the time she tries to avoid facing life's difficulties or anything about her that might make her feel more depressed. She would like to feel happy, but she is afraid of doing much. What homework might you suggest?
3. The client feels that he must win everyone's approval. He has become a "super nice guy" who goes out of his way to please everyone. Rarely does he assert himself, for fear that he might displease someone who then would not like him. He says he would like to be less of a nice guy and be more assertive. What homework might your suggest?
4. The client continually accepts blame by telling himself how terrible he is because he does not give his wife enough attention. He feels totally to blame for the marital problems between him and his wife, and he says he cannot let go of his guilt. What homework might you suggest?
5. Each week the client comes to his sessions with a new excuse for why he has not succeeded in following through with his homework assignments. Either he forgets, gets too busy, gets scared, or puts it off - anything but actually doing something to change what he says he wants to change. Instead of really doing much of anything, he complains each week about how rotten he feels and how he so much would like to change but just doesn't know how. What homework might you suggest?