The Fact Or Opinion worksheet helps clients distinguish between objective facts and subjective opinions.
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.
A fillable version of the resource. This can be edited and saved in Adobe Acrobat, or other PDF editing software.
An editable Microsoft PowerPoint version of the resource.
One common cognitive error that often leads to distress is acting on our opinions as if they were facts. This CBT exercise assists clients in practicing the distinction between facts and opinions.
Identifying whether a thought is a fact or an opinion can help clients:
Pervasive negative thoughts about self-worth.
Anxiety-provoking, catastrophic thinking about the future.
Negative judgments about performance.
Frequent and harsh self-criticism.
Discuss the importance of distinguishing facts from opinions.
Provide examples of these differences.
Use the worksheet to help client practice distinguishing their thoughts.
Encourage reflection on the exercise and its relevance to the client.
Much of the time we respond to our thought processes as if they reflect facts about the world, whereas they more often represent opinions or assumptions. Being able to tell the difference between facts and opinions is a critical skill in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Balanced thinking comes from the process of challenging our thinking – analyzing what it is that we think we know and why it is that we know it.
Fact Or Opinion is a quick worksheet which helps clients differentiate between facts and opinions – a useful starting-point in challenging their own thinking.
