Common Cognitive Distortions
This occurs when a person imagines the worst-case scenario and expects it to happen, often leading to anxiety.
What is catastrophizing
When you see things in black-and-white terms, without recognizing any middle ground, it's called this.
What is all-or-nothing thinking?
This cognitive distortion involves assuming that your negative thoughts are facts, not just thoughts.
What is "should" statements?
In CBT, this activity involves clients writing down distorted thoughts and challenging them through evidence-based arguments.
What is thought record?
This technique involves challenging and rethinking negative thoughts by looking for evidence that supports or contradicts them.
What is cognitive restructuring?
This distortion involves blaming yourself for something outside your control, often leading to guilt and self-blame.
What is personalization?
This involves blaming yourself for things that are beyond your control.
What is personalization?
This distortion involves viewing yourself as a failure based on a single negative event.
What is overgeneralization?
This type of therapy is specifically designed to identify and challenge cognitive distortions by examining thought patterns and behaviors.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
This method helps individuals focus on what they can control by identifying specific actions rather than focusing on the uncontrollable.
What is problem-solving?
This involves assuming that because you feel a certain way, it must be true, regardless of evidence to the contrary.
What is emotional reasoning?
This occurs when you take a small negative event and magnify its significance.
What is magnification?
In this distortion, you believe that your own personal feelings can affect the external world.
What is magical thinking?
This therapeutic technique focuses on helping clients identify automatic negative thoughts and replace them with more realistic alternatives.
What is thought restructuring?
This coping skill involves acknowledging negative thoughts and feelings without allowing them to dictate behavior or perception.
What is mindfulness?
This involves dismissing positive experiences or achievements as unimportant or as a fluke.
What is discounting the positive?
When you only focus on the negative aspects of a situation and ignore the positive, you're engaging in this distortion.
What is mental filtering?
This involves taking personal responsibility for events that are completely outside your control, often leading to unnecessary guilt.
What is personalization?
In CBT, this technique helps clients identify and challenge the all-or-nothing thinking distortion by focusing on more balanced views.
What is the “shades of gray” technique?
This technique encourages individuals to reframe negative thoughts by finding a more balanced or realistic perspective.
What is cognitive reframing?
This involves interpreting a neutral event as being harmful or negative, often leading to feelings of distress.
What is mind reading?
This involves avoiding negative feelings by refusing to accept responsibility for mistakes or failures.
What is denial?
This pattern involves assuming that your negative emotions are valid reflections of reality, rather than just feelings.
What is emotional reasoning?
This type of therapy focuses on accepting negative thoughts and feelings without judgment and moving toward actions aligned with personal values.
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
This technique involves creating alternative explanations for situations where you tend to assume the worst about others.
What is thought challenging?