Cognitive Distortions Identification and Challenge Worksheet
Identify your most frequent cognitive distortions and work through questions to build more balanced thinking.
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Cognitive Distortions Identification and Challenge Worksheet
Identify your most frequent cognitive distortions and work through questions to build more balanced thinking.
Identify Your Personal Cognitive Distortions
Use the table below to identify which cognitive distortions are most relevant to your life.
For each distortion, rate how often you experience it (0=Never, 4=Very Often) and provide a specific example from your recent experiences (if applicable).
Challenge Your Top Distortions
Based on your ratings above, select the 2-3 cognitive distortions that you rated highest.
For each one, work through the challenging questions below to develop more balanced thinking patterns.
| Which distortion? | Specific thought/situation | What evidence supports this thought? | What evidence contradicts this thought? | What would you tell a friend in this situation? | What's a more balanced way to think about this? | What is the impact of this new perspective? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reflection 1
What patterns did you notice in your thinking?
Reflection 2
- Which distortions seem to cause you the most distress?
- What triggers tend to activate these distorted thoughts?
- What strategies will you use to catch these distortions in the moment?
- How will you remind yourself to practice challenging these thoughts?
Reflection 3
What triggers tend to activate these distorted thoughts?
Reflection 4
What strategies will you use to catch these distortions in the moment?
Reflection 5
How will you remind yourself to practice challenging these thoughts?
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