Scaling – Testing Your Assumptions

This Scaling – Testing Your Assumptions exercise is designed to help individuals re-evaluate dysfunctional assumptions using a continuum graph.

Download or send

Professional version

Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.

Client version

Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.

Overview

Continuum strategies are a well-known cognitive intervention that help individuals re-evaluate their absolute appraisals, which include core beliefs and dysfunctional assumptions. Scaling – Testing Your Assumptions aims to assist people in reassessing these dysfunctional beliefs using a continuum graph, also referred to as an 'orthogonal continuum.' This exercise incorporates various cognitive restructuring techniques, allowing clients to examine their assumptions from multiple perspectives.

Why Use This Resource?

By helping clients identify and test dysfunctional assumptions, this resource supports meaningful cognitive and behavioral change.

  • Utilizes an engaging, visual approach to re-evaluating cognitions.
  • Integrates multiple cognitive restructuring strategies.
  • Can be applied to a wide range of psychological difficulties.

Key Benefits

Structured

Provides a step-by-step method to identify and re-evaluate dysfunctional assumptions.

Visual

Uses a two-axis continuum graph to depict the relationship between connected beliefs.

Flexible

Adaptable to a range of assumptions and client difficulties.

Who is this for?

Depression

Assumptions related to worthlessness or failure.

Eating Disorders

Conditional assumptions linking appearance and self-worth.

Perfectionism

Dysfunctional assumptions about performance and failure.

Integrating it into your practice

01

Assumption

Help clients articulate their dysfunctional assumption in an “if… then…” form.

02

Rating

Ask clients to rate belief strength (0–100%).

03

Graph

Create a continuum graph with two axes representing the elements of the assumption.

04

Prediction

Ask clients to predict how real-life examples should appear if the assumption is accurate.

05

Evidence

Plot examples that are consistent and inconsistent with the assumption.

06

Re-rate

Invite clients to re-rate how much they believe the assumption.

07

Reflect

Support clients in developing an alternative, more balanced belief.

Theoretical Background & Therapist Guidance

According to the cognitive model, dysfunctional assumptions play a role in many forms of psychopathology (Beck et al., 1985). Accordingly, they are sometimes targeted in cognitive-behavioral treatments, including CBT for depression (Beck et al., 1979), eating disorders (Waller et al., 2007), and low self-esteem (Fennell, 2006).

Continuum strategies (or ‘scaling’) involve applying continuous properties to discontinuous (i.e., absolute) cognitions (James & Barton, 2004). In other words, they involve rating an absolute appraisal on a scale to explore whether it exists on spectrum. Continuum graphs – technically known as ‘orthogonal continua’ – are a dual continuum technique for evaluating interconnected beliefs such as dysfunctional assumptions (Padesky, 1994; Padesky & Kennerley, 2023). This approach involves plotting data on a two-dimensional graph to test the accuracy of the client’s assumption (e.g., “If I gain weight, I will be less successful in life”). More specifically, continuum graphs help the client explore whether the beliefs that make up their dysfunctional assumption (e.g., thinness and success) are connected to each another (e.g., that weight gain leads to less success).

This Scaling – Testing Your Assumptions exercise is designed to help individuals re-evaluate dysfunctional assumptions using a personalized continuum graph. It combines several cognitive restructuring strategies so clients can test their assumptions in different ways.

By plotting real-life examples on a continuum graph, clients can visually examine the extent to which their assumption holds true. Prediction lines or ellipses help represent clients' confidence in their assumptions, and the inclusion of discrepant data often leads to more balanced conclusions.

This technique can be especially helpful when clients overgeneralize from isolated experiences. It supports therapists in collaboratively guiding clients toward a more flexible and evidence-informed understanding of themselves and their world.

What's inside

  • A comprehensive overview of continuum strategies.
  • Detailed instructions for using the resource with clients.
  • Key references and recommendations for further reading.
Get access to this resource

FAQs

A continuum graph (or orthogonal continuum) is a two-dimensional visual tool for exploring the relationship between two linked beliefs within a dysfunctional assumption.
While traditional methods challenge beliefs through verbal reasoning, this technique adds a visual and experiential element.
Therapists can use prompts such as completing sentence stems or the downward arrow technique to help clarify the assumption.

How This Resource Improves Clinical Outcomes

By helping clients test their assumptions, this resource promotes:

  • Increased awareness of dysfunctional attitudes and thinking patterns.
  • Development of more flexible and helpful assumptions.
  • Reduced distress and problematic behavior linked to dysfunctional assumptions.

Clinicians Who Use This Resource Also Use

References And Further Reading

  • Beck, A. T., Emery, G., & Greenberg, R. L. (1985). Anxiety disorders and phobias: A cognitive perspective. Basic Books.
  • Beck, A. T., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B. F., & Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive therapy of depression. Guilford Press.
  • Beck, J. S. (2005). Cognitive therapy for challenging problems: What to do when the basics don’t work. Guilford Press.
  • Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
  • Burns, D. D. (1980). Feel good: The new mood therapy. United Kingdom: Penguin Books.
  • Dowd, E. T. (2002). History and recent developments in cognitive psychotherapy. In R. L. Leahy & E. T. Dowd (Eds.), Clinical advances in cognitive psychotherapy: Theory and application (pp. 15-28). Springer.
  • Fennell, M. (2006). Overcoming low self-esteem self-help course: Part three: Changing the rules, creating a new bottom line, and looking to the future. Robinson.
  • James, I. A., & Barton, S. (2004). Changing core beliefs with the continuum technique. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 32, 431-442. DOI: 10.1017/S1352465804001614.
  • Kennerley, H., Kirk, J., & Westbrook, D. (2017). An introduction to cognitive behaviour therapy: Skills and applications. Sage.
  • Leahy, R. L. (2017). Cognitive therapy techniques: A practitioner’s guide (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
  • Morrison, A. P. (2007). Case formulation and cognitive schemas in cognitive therapy for psychosis. In: L. P. Riso, P. L. du Toit, D. J. Stein, & J. E. Young (Eds.), Cognitive schemas and core beliefs in psychological problems (pp.177-197). American Psychological Association.
  • Padesky, C. A. (1994). Schema change processes in cognitive therapy. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 1, 267-278. DOI: 10.1002/cpp.5640010502.
  • Padesky, C. A., & Kennerley, H. (2023). Dialogues for discovery: Improving psychotherapy’s effectiveness. Oxford University Press.
  • Waller, G., Cordery, H., Corstorphine, E., Hinrichsen, H., Lawson, R., Mountford, V., & Russell, K. (2007). Cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders: A comprehensive treatment guide. Cambridge University Press.
  • Weissman, A. N. (1979). The dysfunctional attitude scale: A validation study. University of Pennsylvania.