This worksheet helps clients re-evaluate their automatic thoughts by exploring the evidence for and against these cognitions.
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.
The Thought Record - Evidence For And Against is a resource designed to help clients examine distressing or problematic automatic thoughts. Based on Beck’s cognitive model, this worksheet supports cognitive restructuring by encouraging clients to document triggering events, identify automatic thoughts, analyze supporting and opposing evidence, and produce balanced appraisals. This approach aligns with cognitive therapy's goal of promoting accurate thinking rather than simply replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.
Understanding and re-evaluating automatic thoughts is central to cognitive therapy. The Thought Record resource enables clinicians to guide clients through the process of identifying and questioning their thoughts, helping to address biased thinking.
Clients struggling with excessive self-blame and feelings of hopelessness.
When clients experience worry and fear based on catastrophic thoughts.
Addressing concerns regarding negative evaluations or social rejection.
Assists clients with negative self-perceptions and self-criticism.
Instruct clients to record specific situations that trigger negative automatic thoughts.
Document automatic thoughts related to the identified situation.
Review evidence supporting and opposing problematic thoughts.
Develop a considered response accounting for all recorded evidence.
Help clients assess their new response and changes in how they feel.
Encourage ongoing reflection.
Beck’s cognitive model suggests that it is our interpretation of events, not the events themselves, which trigger emotional responses. Core beliefs, intermediate beliefs, and automatic thoughts form layers of cognition that influence how people perceive and respond to events.
Thought records, such as this one, are critical for practicing cognitive restructuring — the process of shifting from biased to accurate thinking.
This resource follows Beck’s method of examining automatic thoughts through reality testing.
