Unhelpful thinking styles are cognitive distortions that lead to biased and inaccurate views. This information handout describes common cognitive distortions, helping clients identify and address them.
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.
Unhelpful thinking styles, also known as cognitive distortions, are biased thought patterns. They often lead individuals to misinterpret or misjudge events in ways that can exacerbate emotional distress. Understanding these automatic, involuntary thought processes is a key intervention in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) (Beck, 1963).
This resource provides an overview of 10 common cognitive distortions. It can help therapists and clients identify, evaluate, and address these distortions, leading to more adaptive thinking and reduced emotional distress.
Unhelpful thinking styles are key concept in CBT. Recognizing and addressing these distortions can help bring about therapeutic change.
Persistent and excessive worry.
Intrusive thoughts and compulsions.
Pronounced low mood.
Longstanding emotional and interpersonal difficulties.
Unhelpful thinking styles are associated with a range of other difficulties, including low self-esteem, perfectionism, and social anxiety.
Introduce clients to the idea of unhelpful thinking styles.
Begin identifying unhelpful thinking styles during therapy sessions.
Help clients to monitor unhelpful thinking styles in different situations.
Use key interventions such as decentring, costs-benefits analysis, and cognitive restructuring to address unhelpful thinking styles.
Cognitive distortions are generally believed to stem from deeply ingrained schemas formed during development. According to Beck's cognitive model, these distortions emerge from a hierarchy of thoughts: automatic thoughts, intermediate beliefs, and core beliefs.
Cognitive distortions can take many forms, such as emotional reasoning (viewing feelings as facts) or mental filter (only paying attention to certain types of evidence). The cognitive model posits that these biases are a significant contributor to psychological distress, and addressing can help alleviate symptoms.
Clinicians are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the specific distortions listed in this resource and use them as a reference for therapeutic dialogue. By exploring cognitive content and assessing its validity, clinicians can help clients form more balanced perspectives.
