Cognitive Distortions: Filtering Worksheet
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
Thought patterns influence how people interpret difficult situations. When a client practices healthy thinking, they can build healthier reactions to distressing issues. Errors in thinking, known as cognitive distortions, can cause us to misinterpret situations and act in ways that do not reflect our true character.
Cognitive distortions are persistent errors in thinking that strongly influence a client's ability to perceive and understand distressing events. A common cognitive distortion is filtering. Filtering is a tendency to focus solely on the negative aspects of a situation while ignoring strengths or details that could lessen its impact. This pattern can harm a person's self-perception and reasoning.
About This Worksheet
Clients in therapy who tend to use filtering in their thought patterns can benefit from learning healthy ways to identify and modify such patterns. The Cognitive Distortions: Filtering worksheet provides an example of what filtering is and how it can affect a person's perspective. On this worksheet, you will find:
- A brief introduction to filtering
- An example of what filtering is and how it affects a person
- Space to reflect on how filtering is affecting the client's thought patterns
This worksheet is great for individual and group counseling sessions. Adolescents and adults can understand and benefit from the content of this worksheet.
Instructions
Introduce the Cognitive Distortions: Filtering worksheet and review the introduction with the client. Explain the definition of filtering and how it may be affecting the client's perceptions and thought processes. Reflect on the example with the client and ensure that they understand the concept of filtering and how it may apply to them.
Instruct the client to complete the three reflection questions, offering guidance as needed. When they have completed the questions, review their responses with them. Start a dialog about how this information can be used to create healthier thinking patterns. You may ask questions, like:
- "What do you think are the situations you may find yourself filtering in?"
- "What do you need to remind yourself when you begin noticing the pattern of filtering?"
Use this worksheet as a guide to teach the client coping skills for managing filtering and other cognitive distortions.
References
Beck, J. S. (2020). Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Third Edition: Basics and Beyond. New York, NY, USA: Guilford Press.
Friedman, H. H. (2023). Overcoming cognitive distortions: How to recognize and challenge the thinking traps that make you miserable. ResearchGate.
