In Habit Reversal Therapy, which step involves awareness and maintaining a detailed log of the behavior including time, duration, activity, and emotional state?

• A. Identification of Triggers
• B. Competitive response
• C. Awareness
• D. Mindfulness

Answer: (C)

In Habit Reversal Therapy, the first phase centers on awareness training, which includes self-monitoring of the habit. This involves keeping a detailed log that records when the behavior occurs, how long it lasts, what activity you’re engaged in, and your emotional state at the time. This self-monitoring creates a clear, objective picture of the pattern, helping you see exact triggers, frequency, and the emotional or situational contexts that accompanies the habit. With this level of awareness, you can anticipate the urge and identify when to apply the competing response later. While identifying triggers is part of understanding the pattern, the explicit act described here—systematically tracking the behavior in detail—belongs to the awareness phase. Mindfulness can support overall attention to experience, but the traditional terminology for this specific step is awareness.