Name that distortion
“I failed once, so I’ll always fail.”
👉 Black-and-white thinking
“I can’t handle this without drinking.”
👉 “This is hard, but I can use coping skills.”
Client avoids group because “everyone is judging me.”
👉 Mind reading
Thought: “I can’t do this”
👉 Feeling: anxiety
👉 Behavior: avoidance
“I’ll never stay sober”
👉 Evidence against: past sobriety, current treatment
“They didn’t text me back—they must be mad at me.”
👉 Mind reading
“I always mess everything up.”
👉 “I’ve made mistakes, but I’m working on change.”
Client thinks “I missed one meeting, I’m failing recovery.”
👉 All-or-nothing thinking
Thought: “No one cares about me”
👉 Feeling: sadness
👉 Behavior: isolation
“No one supports me”
👉 Evidence: family, therapist, group
“I messed up today, my whole recovery is ruined.”
👉 Catastrophizing
“No one understands me.”
👉 “Some people may not, but I can find support.”
Client assumes sponsor is disappointed without asking
👉 Jumping to conclusions
Thought: “I’m going to fail”
👉 Feeling: hopelessness
👉 Behavior: giving up
“I can’t handle stress”
👉 Evidence: times they have handled stress
“My relapse is proof I’m a terrible person.”
👉 Labeling
“If I feel anxious, something is wrong.”
👉 “Anxiety is uncomfortable, not dangerous.”
Client believes cravings mean they are weak
👉 Emotional reasoning
Thought: “I don’t belong here”
👉 Feeling: insecurity
👉 Behavior: withdrawal
“I’m a failure”
👉 Evidence: showing up to treatment, trying again
👉 Evidence: showing up to treatment, trying again
“Everyone in group thinks I’m stupid.”
👉 Overgeneralization / Mind reading
“If I relapse, I might as well give up.”
👉 “A relapse doesn’t have to stop recovery altogether—I can get back on track.”
Client says “I’ve relapsed before, so I’ll always relapse”
👉 Overgeneralization
Thought: “Using will make this better”
👉 Feeling: relief (temporary)
👉 Behavior: relapse
“I need substances to feel okay”
👉 Evidence: coping skills, moments of stability without use