Cognitive Distortions PDF Worksheet
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What’s included in this free download?
Cognitive Distortions Free Fillable PDF Worksheet
Who is this tool meant for?
This exercise is designed for coaches, therapists, counselors, and other mental health professionals looking for a tool/exercise to integrate into their practice. Please note that while you can use this tool for self-help, it’s primarily designed for practitioners.
How to Overcome Cognitive Distortions
Here are some strategies that you can use to overcome cognitive distortions. (It's important to note that overcoming cognitive distortions takes time and practice. It's not something that will happen overnight, but with persistence and patience, you can learn to think in more balanced and realistic ways.)
01. Recognize when you are experiencing a cognitive distortion: The first step in overcoming cognitive distortions is to be aware that they are happening. This can be difficult because cognitive distortions often occur automatically and unconsciously. However, by paying attention to your thoughts and emotions, you can start to identify when you are experiencing a cognitive distortion.
02. Challenge the distortion: Once you have identified a cognitive distortion, the next step is to challenge it. This means looking at the evidence and examining whether the distortion is really true. For example, if you are experiencing the cognitive distortion of overgeneralization, you might ask yourself: "Is it really true that this negative event will happen all the time?" By questioning the distortion, you can start to see things in a more balanced and realistic way.
03. Practice more balanced thinking: Once you have challenged a cognitive distortion, the next step is to practice more balanced thinking. This means looking at both the positive and negative aspects of a situation, rather than focusing on just one or the other. For example, if you are experiencing the cognitive distortion of mental filtering, you might try to identify at least one positive aspect of the situation. By practicing more balanced thinking, you can start to see things in a more realistic way.
04. Use coping statements: Coping statements are positive affirmations that you can use to counter negative thoughts. For example, if you are experiencing the cognitive distortion of catastrophizing, you might try using a coping statement like: "I have faced challenges before and I can do it again." By using coping statements, you can start to shift your thinking in a more positive direction.
Want more interactive worksheets and coaching tools?
Download Now
What’s included in this free download?
Cognitive Distortions Free Fillable PDF Worksheet
Who is this tool meant for?
This exercise is designed for coaches, therapists, counselors, and other mental health professionals looking for a tool/exercise to integrate into their practice. Please note that while you can use this tool for self-help, it’s primarily designed for practitioners.
How to Overcome Cognitive Distortions
Here are some strategies that you can use to overcome cognitive distortions. (It's important to note that overcoming cognitive distortions takes time and practice. It's not something that will happen overnight, but with persistence and patience, you can learn to think in more balanced and realistic ways.)
01. Recognize when you are experiencing a cognitive distortion: The first step in overcoming cognitive distortions is to be aware that they are happening. This can be difficult because cognitive distortions often occur automatically and unconsciously. However, by paying attention to your thoughts and emotions, you can start to identify when you are experiencing a cognitive distortion.
02. Challenge the distortion: Once you have identified a cognitive distortion, the next step is to challenge it. This means looking at the evidence and examining whether the distortion is really true. For example, if you are experiencing the cognitive distortion of overgeneralization, you might ask yourself: "Is it really true that this negative event will happen all the time?" By questioning the distortion, you can start to see things in a more balanced and realistic way.
03. Practice more balanced thinking: Once you have challenged a cognitive distortion, the next step is to practice more balanced thinking. This means looking at both the positive and negative aspects of a situation, rather than focusing on just one or the other. For example, if you are experiencing the cognitive distortion of mental filtering, you might try to identify at least one positive aspect of the situation. By practicing more balanced thinking, you can start to see things in a more realistic way.
04. Use coping statements: Coping statements are positive affirmations that you can use to counter negative thoughts. For example, if you are experiencing the cognitive distortion of catastrophizing, you might try using a coping statement like: "I have faced challenges before and I can do it again." By using coping statements, you can start to shift your thinking in a more positive direction.
Want more interactive worksheets and coaching tools?
Download Now
What’s included in this free download?
Cognitive Distortions Free Fillable PDF Worksheet
Who is this tool meant for?
This exercise is designed for coaches, therapists, counselors, and other mental health professionals looking for a tool/exercise to integrate into their practice. Please note that while you can use this tool for self-help, it’s primarily designed for practitioners.
How to Overcome Cognitive Distortions
Here are some strategies that you can use to overcome cognitive distortions. (It's important to note that overcoming cognitive distortions takes time and practice. It's not something that will happen overnight, but with persistence and patience, you can learn to think in more balanced and realistic ways.)
01. Recognize when you are experiencing a cognitive distortion: The first step in overcoming cognitive distortions is to be aware that they are happening. This can be difficult because cognitive distortions often occur automatically and unconsciously. However, by paying attention to your thoughts and emotions, you can start to identify when you are experiencing a cognitive distortion.
02. Challenge the distortion: Once you have identified a cognitive distortion, the next step is to challenge it. This means looking at the evidence and examining whether the distortion is really true. For example, if you are experiencing the cognitive distortion of overgeneralization, you might ask yourself: "Is it really true that this negative event will happen all the time?" By questioning the distortion, you can start to see things in a more balanced and realistic way.
03. Practice more balanced thinking: Once you have challenged a cognitive distortion, the next step is to practice more balanced thinking. This means looking at both the positive and negative aspects of a situation, rather than focusing on just one or the other. For example, if you are experiencing the cognitive distortion of mental filtering, you might try to identify at least one positive aspect of the situation. By practicing more balanced thinking, you can start to see things in a more realistic way.
04. Use coping statements: Coping statements are positive affirmations that you can use to counter negative thoughts. For example, if you are experiencing the cognitive distortion of catastrophizing, you might try using a coping statement like: "I have faced challenges before and I can do it again." By using coping statements, you can start to shift your thinking in a more positive direction.
Want more interactive worksheets and coaching tools?