Thinking Errors Worksheet
GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC
When teaching your clients cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) coping skills, it is important to introduce them to common thinking errors. Thinking errors, or cognitive distortions, are thought patterns that can affect how clients interpret situations, which can contribute to hurt feelings, unwanted behaviors, an impaired sense of self-esteem, and more.
Thinking errors are a common experience. Identifying common thinking errors and balancing negative thoughts can help reduce negative thought patterns and improve reactions to triggering situations.
About This Worksheet
Thinking errors can affect a client's judgment if not properly addressed in therapy. Learning about the thinking errors your client experiences most often can aid in learning healthy CBT coping skills, like thought-challenging, gentle self-talk, and more.
The Thinking Errors worksheet helps clients understand how thinking errors affect their interpretation of upsetting situations. It provides an example of 6 common thinking errors and how they can be reframed into healthier and more balanced thoughts. A space is also provided for the client to record their own example and balanced thoughts.
Adults participating in CBT can benefit from the Thinking Errors worksheet. It can be used in individual or group counseling sessions.
Instructions
Begin by briefly explaining what a thinking error is and how it can affect a client's judgment. Then, introduce the worksheet and review each of the 6 types of thinking errors with the client. Instruct them to provide an example from their own experience and help them formulate a balanced thought after reviewing each thinking error.
After reviewing each thinking error and allowing the client time to complete the worksheet with their own examples and balanced thoughts, review their responses with them. To facilitate self-reflection, ask them the following discussion questions:
- Which 2 thinking errors do you experience most often?
- How do you think these thinking errors are affecting your judgment and reactions to triggering situations?
Encourage them to reflect on how balancing thinking errors can alleviate hurt feelings and unwanted reactions. Provide the client with a copy of their completed worksheet for reference.
References
Beck, A. T. (1979). Cognitive therapy of depression Guilford Press.
Beck, J. S. (2020). Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Third Edition: Basics and Beyond. New York, NY, USA: Guilford Press.
