The Attention - Self-Monitoring Record is a structured tool designed to collect valuable information about how what clients pay attention to in different situations.
Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
An editable Microsoft PowerPoint version of the resource.
An editable Microsoft Word version of the resource.
Developing self-monitoring skills teaches clients to systematically observe and record specific targets such as their own thoughts, body feelings, emotions, and behaviors. Though it’s usually introduced early in the therapy process, it can continue to provide an inexpensive and constant measure of problem symptoms and behaviors throughout treatment. The Attention - Self-Monitoring Record worksheet is designed to help clients document what they focus on in various situations.
Self-monitoring is a cornerstone of cognitive-behavioral therapy, supporting both assessment and intervention. This resource assists clients in observing and recording important information that can:
Excessive self-focused attention in social situations.
Hypervigilance and attention biases towards perceived threats.
Heightened attention to worries and sources of uncertainty.
Explain the benefits and rationale for self-monitoring.
Agree targets for self-monitoring.
Provide instructions for completing the record and rehearse with the client.
Review the client's completed self-monitoring record.
Modify self-monitoring based on progress, shifting focus as needed.
Self-monitoring is a technique where clients systematically observe and record their thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviors to enhance awareness and gain insight into their challenges. It is commonly used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and involves two main components: discrimination (recognizing target phenomena) and recording (documenting occurrences).
Self-monitoring can be faciliating using various tools such as diaries, logs, and records, aimed at helping clients engage in their treatment by fostering self-control and autonomy. Data collected can inform case formulation and intervention planning, as it assists in identifying prevalent problems, unhelpful thinking patterns, triggers, and coping behaviors. Typically, self-monitoring is introduced early in therapy, particularly for covert phenomena like rumination or self-criticism. Clients may begin with simple tasks and advance to more detailed records exploring the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Psychology Tools self-monitoring records have been carefully designed to focus on particular targets. Typically, each form has a standard version that collects essential data about the target behavior, as well as an Extended version that gathers additional information on the consequences of client behaviors. This extra data can help form hypotheses about reinforcing factors.
The Attention - Self Monitoring Record is designed to help clients capture information about what they pay attention to in different situations. It includes columns to record information about: situational context; focus of attention (with additional prompts about an internal or external focus); emotional and physiological reactions; and coping responses. An additional ‘extended’ version of the form includes a column for recording the consequences of these coping responses, which may help therapists generate hypotheses about how the client’s existing coping strategies contribute to the maintenance of their difficulties.
