Name that Distortion
Thinking in absolutes using words like “always” or “never” (e.g., “I never do anything right”).
What is All-or-Nothing Thinking?
“If I fail this test I’m worthless.”
One test doesn’t define my worth; I can learn from this and do better next time.
Making broad conclusions from a single event
What is Overgeneralization?
CBT teaches you to stop having negative thoughts altogether.
False. CBT helps you notice, question, and balance thoughts — not eliminate all negative ones
Who is the best group leader ever? (Hint, their name starts with a C)
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“I feel like a bad friend, so I must be a bad friend."
What is Emotional Reasoning?
“I’ll never recover after messing up — it’s all downhill from here.”
This is a setback, not a permanent decline
Telling yourself things ‘should’ be a certain way
What are ‘Should’ Statements?
CBT stands for Cognitive Brain Therapy
False. CBT stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Which distortion most often keeps someone stuck by convincing them their feeling is final proof of truth?
What is Emotional Reasoning?
Exaggerating the negative importance of a mistake or minimizing your successes.
What is magnification and minimization?
“Nobody at school ever likes me.”
I’ve had times when people were friendly — one feeling doesn’t mean ‘nobody’ ever likes me.
Predicting that things will turn out badly without evidence
What is fortune telling?
Personalization means taking responsibility for things outside of your control.
True
Name the distortion: ‘I’m pretty sure they don’t like me’ based only on a neutral glance
What is Jumping to Conclusions (or Mind Reading)?
“I didn’t get a text back — she must hate me”
What is mind reading?
“I feel anxious about calling them, so they must be mad at me.”
My anxiety doesn’t prove they’re mad
Interpreting an event with almost no evidence — jumping to the worst meaning.
What is jumping to conclusions (or catastrophizing)
CBT is only helpful for those with depression and anxiety
False. It can also be used for trauma, eating disorders, and more.
Two distortions in one: "They didn’t invite me to the party, so they must hate me and I’ll be lonely forever." Name both distortions.
What are Mind Reading (or Jumping to Conclusions) and Catastrophizing (or Overgeneralization)
Believing your thought caused an unrelated event (e.g., “If I hadn’t wished it, it wouldn’t have happened.”)
What is magical thinking?
If I don’t say the right thing, they’ll think I’m a horrible person
One awkward moment doesn’t make me a horrible person.
Dismissing compliments and focusing only on one negative comment while ignoring lots of positive feedback
What is Disqualifying the Positive?
Negative thoughts are always wrong.
False. Some can be true, but they have to have evidence behind them.
Concept question: Explain why ‘should statements’ commonly lead to shame or resentment
“Should” creates rigid expectations, unrealistic rules, and self-judgement.