What is Donald Meichenbaum known for?

• A. Mindfulness-based exposure therapy.
• B. Standard behavior therapy.
• C. Self-help groups.
• D. Self-instructional therapy, focusing on inner speech.

Answer: (D)

Meichenbaum’s main contribution is the development of self-instructional therapy that uses inner speech to regulate and guide behavior. He taught clients to use deliberate self-talk to plan actions, cope with stressful tasks, and modify responses, highlighting how internal dialogue acts as a cognitive mediator between stimulus and response. This focus on inner speech as a cognitive tool is why the description of self-instructional therapy centered on inner speech is the best fit. Mindfulness-based exposure therapy blends mindfulness with exposure and is not the hallmark of his work. Standard behavior therapy emphasizes observable behavior and reinforcement with less emphasis on cognitive processes. Self-help groups are not the specific contribution he is known for.