Information handouts
Did you know that 40 to 80% of medical information is immediately forgotten by patients (Kessels, 2003)? The same is probably true of therapy and counseling, so clients will almost always benefit from having access to additional written information. Psychology Tools information handouts provide clear, concise, and reliable information, which will empower your clients to take an active role in their treatment. Learning about their mental health, helpful strategies and techniques, and other psychoeducation topics helps clients better understand and overcome their difficulties. Moreover, clients who understand the process and content of therapy are more likely to invest in the process and commit to making positive changes.
84 of 184 resources
Recognizing Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by the restriction of energy intake, leading to a severely low weight in the context of an individual’s age, heigh ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-anorexia-nervosa
Recognizing Binge Eating Disorder
Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by frequent and recurrent episodes of binge eating, which is defined as a period of time in which the individua ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-binge-eating-disorder
Recognizing Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is characterized by the persistent preoccupation with defects or flaws in one’s appearance that are either unnoticeable or ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-body-dysmorphic-disorder
Recognizing Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by frequent and recurrent episodes of binge eating, which are defined as a period of time in which the individual exp ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-bulimia-nervosa
Recognizing Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Complex PTSD) may develop after exposure to an event (or series of events) of an extremely threatening or horr ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-complex-post-traumatic-stress-disorder
Recognizing Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder (DPD)
Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder is characterized by experiences of unreality and detachment from oneself and the world. Experiences of depers ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-depersonalization-derealization-disorder-dpd
Recognizing Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by marked symptoms of anxiety that persist, more days than not, for at least several months. Peopl ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad
Recognizing Hoarding Disorder
Hoarding Disorder is characterized by the ongoing accumulation of possessions that result in living spaces becoming overwhelmed to the point that thei ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-hoarding-disorder
Recognizing Hypochondriasis
Hypochondriasis is characterized by the persistent preoccupation or fear about the possibility of having serious illnesses. To combat this fear, clien ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-hypochondriasis
Recognizing Insomnia Disorders
Insomnia is characterized by persistent difficulty with sleep initiation, duration, consolidation, or quality that occur despite adequate opportunitie ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-insomnia-disorders
Recognizing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by the presence of persistent and repeated obsessions and compulsions. The obsessions are intrusi ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd
Recognizing Panic Disorder
Panic attacks are discrete episodes of intense fear or apprehension which are accompanied by the rapid onset of characteristic physiological and cogni ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-panic-attacks-and-panic-disorder
Recognizing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may develop after exposure to an extremely threatening or horrific event, or series of events. It is characteriz ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
Recognizing Prolonged Grief Disorder
Prolonged Grief Disorder is a disturbance in which there is a persistent and pervasive grief response following the death of loved one. It is characte ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-prolonged-grief-disorder
Recognizing Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder is characterized by excessive fear regarding one or more social situations. People with social anxiety are concerned about bei ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-social-anxiety-disorder
Recognizing Specific Phobia
Specific phobia is characterized by marked and excessive fear or anxiety concerning a particular object or situation, and which is out of proportion t ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-specific-phobia
Responses To Threat: Freeze, Appease, Flight, Fight
Human beings are programmed to respond automatically in a variety of ways to a threat including freezing, escaping, and dissociation. Traumatized indi ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/responses-to-threat-freeze-appease-flight-fight
Rewind Technique
The Rewind Technique is a simple technique for processing traumatic memories and involves an element of exposure. It is best practiced within a formul ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/rewind-technique
Safety Behaviors
Safety behaviors are actions carried out with the intention of preventing a feared catastrophe. In the short-term they often give a sense of relief, b ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/safety-behaviors
Schema Bias
Core beliefs (schemas) are self-sustaining. They act to 'attract' confirmatory evidence and 'repel' or 'distort' disconfirmatory evidence. This inform ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/schema-bias
Schema Metaphors
Core beliefs (schemas) are self-sustaining. They act to 'attract' confirmatory evidence and 'repel' or 'distort' disconfirmatory evidence. This inform ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/schema-metaphors
Selective Attention
Selective attention can be conceptualized as a maintaining process (mechanism) within CBT. Biases in perception can lead to biases in information proc ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/selective-attention
Self-Blame
The Self-Blame information handout forms part of the cognitive distortions series, designed to help clients and therapists to work more effectively wi ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/self-blame
Social Comparison
The Social Comparison information handout forms part of the cognitive distortions series, designed to help clients and therapists to work more effecti ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/social-comparison
Stages Of Change
The Stages Of Change model is helpful for conceptualizing the mental states of individuals at different stages of their change journey. This informati ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/stages-of-change
Starvation Syndrome – The Effects of Semi-Starvation
The Starvation Syndrome – Effects of Semi-Starvation handout provides an overview of the Minnesota Starvation Experiment and common symptoms of semi ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/starvation-syndrome-the-effects-of-semi-starvation
Strategies For People With Memory Problems
Memory is the ability to store, hold on to, and retrieve the information that we experience. For individuals with mood disorders, treatment of the moo ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/strategies-for-people-with-memory-problems
Thought Suppression And Intrusive Thoughts
Suppression is a common approach to unwanted thoughts, worriers, doubts, or urges. Unfortunately, there are good reasons why this strategy fails. This ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/thought-suppression-and-intrusive-thoughts
Thought-Action Fusion
The Thought-Action Fusion information handout forms part of the cognitive distortions series, designed to help clients and therapists to work more eff ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/thought-action-fusion
Thoughts And Depression
Depression is associated with cognitive biases, one of which is a failure to notice positive information. This information handout presents this conce ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/thoughts-and-depression
Transdiagnostic Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Eating Disorders (Fairburn, Cooper, Shafran, 2003)
Fairburn, Cooper & Shafran (2003) argue that eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia share common maintenance mechanisms despite difference ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/transdiagnostic-cognitive-behavioral-model-of-eating-disorders-fairburn-cooper-shafran-2003
Transdiagnostic Processes
A ‘transdiagnostic process’ is the label given to a mechanism which is present across disorders and which is either a risk or maintaining factor f ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/transdiagnostic-processes
Types Of Dissociation
The Types Of Dissociation information handout is designed for clients who have experienced trauma and describes dissociation using accessible terminol ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/types-of-dissociation
Understanding My Panic
The Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Panic identifies catastrophic misinterpretation of body sensations as a criticial maintenance factor which serves to ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/understanding-my-panic
Understanding PTSD
Ehlers & Clark's cognitive model of PTSD outline key maintaining factors. Understanding PTSD is a simple pictorial explanation of the maintenance ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/understanding-ptsd
Unforgiveness Hook Metaphor
Forgiveness is an often misunderstood concept in therapy. This Unforgiveness Hook Metaphor is a striking representation of the consequences of remaini ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/unforgiveness-hook-metaphor
Unmet Emotional Needs
Unmet emotional needs can give rise to early maladaptive schemas, and other forms of maladaptive coping. This Unmet Emotional Needs handout forms part ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/unmet-emotional-needs
What Are Safety Behaviors?
Safety-seeking behaviors (‘safety behaviors’) are actions that people take in response to a real – or perceived – threat. When a threat is rea ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-are-safety-behaviors
What Are Schemas?
Schema therapy posits that psychological difficulties stem from early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and peoples’ characteristic responses to them, refer ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-are-schemas
What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is thought to be maintained by changes in perception, cognition, and behavior. This information handout is a simple introduction to the psych ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-causes-tinnitus
What Does Exercise Do For the Mind And Body?
Exercise is an evidence-based treatment for depression and anxiety and research suggests that in the treatment of depression, exercise interventions l ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-does-exercise-do-for-the-mind-and-body
What Does The Brain Do? (Lobes and Regions)
The human brain is the center of the body’s nervous system and the seat of cognition. It is responsible for everything that we do, feel and perceive ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-does-the-brain-do-lobes-and-regions
What Does The Brain Do? (Lobes)
The human brain is the centre of the body’s nervous system and the seat of cognition. It is responsible for everything that we do, feel, and perceiv ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-does-the-brain-do-lobes
What Is A Panic Attack?
Panic attacks are single episodes of intense fear or discomfort that begin suddenly and reach a peak within minutes. The cognitive behavioral model of ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-a-panic-attack
What Is Anorexia?
Our ‘What Is … ?’ series is a collection of one-page information handouts for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, handout ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-anorexia
What Is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?
Many people have concerns about how they look, but significant and persistent worry about one's appearance may be a sign of body dysmorphic disorder ( ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd
What Is Bulimia?
Our ‘What Is … ?’ series is a collection of one-page information handouts for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, handout ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-bulimia
What Is Burnout?
Our ‘What Is … ?’ series is a collection of one-page information handouts for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, handout ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-burnout
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is fundamentally concerned with the meanings which people make of their experiences. The insight of the CBT model i ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-cbt-worksheet-handout
What Is Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)?
Compassion focused therapy (CFT) was developed to work with issues of shame and self-criticism. The CFT model complements and expands the traditional ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-compassion-focused-therapy-cft
What Is Concussion?
Concussion is a label given to a group of symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or mild head injury and is caused by the brain colliding w ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-concussion
What Is EMDR? (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based treatment for trauma. Its theoretical basis is described by the adaptive inf ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-emdr
What Is Exposure Therapy?
Exposure is an effective evidence-based treatment for fear. This information handout describes the key principles of Exposure Therapy. Clients who are ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-exposure-therapy
What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
Our ‘What Is … ?’ series is a collection of one-page information handouts for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, handout ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad
What Is Imagery Rescripting?
Unwanted images are a feature common to a variety of problems including PTSD and depression. Imagery rescripting is an evidence-based treatment techni ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-imagery-rescripting
What Is Memory?
Like other aspects of cognition, transient difficulties with memory can be caused by stress or fatigue and there is a documented decline in memory fun ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-memory
What Is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness meditation is a traditional Buddhist practice. It is now commonly taught as a practice helpful in the management of a variety of mental he ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-mindfulness
What Is Panic Disorder?
Our ‘What Is … ?’ series is a collection of one-page information handouts for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, handout ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-panic-disorder
What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
Our ‘What Is … ?’ series is a collection of one-page information handouts for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, handout ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
What Is Rumination?
Rumination and repetitive thought is a transdiagnostic maintenance process underpinning a range of difficulties. This information sheet explores the c ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-rumination
What Is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Our ‘What Is … ?’ series is a collection of one-page information handouts for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, handout ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-social-anxiety-disorder
What Is TF-CBT?
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This information handou ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-tf-cbt
What Is Worry?
Worrying is a form of thinking about the future, defined as thinking about future events in a way that leaves you feeling anxious or apprehensive. Cli ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-worry
What Keeps Anorexia Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-anorexia-going
What Keeps Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-going
What Keeps Bulimia Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-bulimia-going
What Keeps Burnout Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-burnout-going
What Keeps Death Anxiety Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-death-anxiety-going
What Keeps Depersonalization And Derealization Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-depersonalization-and-derealization-going
What Keeps Depression Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-depression-going
What Keeps Fears And Phobias Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-fears-and-phobias-going
What Keeps Generalized Anxiety And Worry Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-generalized-anxiety-and-worry-going
What Keeps Health Anxiety Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-health-anxiety-going
What Keeps Low Self-Esteem Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-low-self-esteem-going
What Keeps Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Going?
The "What Keeps It Going?" series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concise, t ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd-going
What Keeps Panic Going?
The "What Keeps It Going?" series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concise, t ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-panic-going
What Keeps Perfectionism Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-perfectionism-going
What Keeps Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Going?
The "What Keeps It Going?" series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concise, t ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd-going
What Keeps Psychosis Going?
The "What Keeps It Going?" series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concise, t ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-psychosis-going
What Keeps Social Anxiety Going?
The "What Keeps It Going?" series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concise, t ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-social-anxiety-going
What Keeps Tinnitus Going
What Keeps Tinnitus Going is a tinnitus formulation diagram which combines information about neurological-level change (the brain’s ‘filter’) an ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-tinnitus-going
Window Of Tolerance
The window of tolerance concept was coined by Dan Siegel in his 1999 book The Developing Mind. Siegel proposes that everyone has a range of intensitie ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/window-of-tolerance
Your Stone Age Brain
Your Stone Age Brain is an information handout which describes the freeze-flight-fight response: a set of evolutionary adaptations that increase the c ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/your-stone-age-brain
Your Stone Age Brain (CYP)
Your Stone Age Brain is an information handout designed to stimulate discussion with anxious children & adolescents. It describes the freeze-fligh ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/your-stone-age-brain-cyp