Hotspot Record
The Hotspot Record is a structured clinical worksheet designed to support the process of identifying, documenting, and updating traumatic appraisals in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) therapy.
Hotspot Record
If you’re struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it’s likely that you sometimes re-experience distressing memories related to your trauma. The memories can come back as ‘flashbacks’ during the day or as nightmares at night.
Psychologists have found that trauma flashbacks often focus on the most upsetting moments of a trauma. Therapists call these worst moments ‘hotspots’. Addressing these hotspots is an important part of overcoming trauma and flashbacks.
The Hotspot Record will help you identify the hotspots in your traumatic memories, along with the distressing thoughts and feelings linked to them. It will also lay the groundwork for addressing these worst moments in therapy so you can move on from these experiences.
Recalling a traumatic experience can bring up intense feelings. For this reason, it’s best to start filling in this Hotspot Record with the help of your therapist.
Overview
In PTSD therapy, identifying and updating traumatic appraisals can significantly support the therapeutic process. The Hotspot Record is used in trauma-focused therapy to help clients identify key “hotspots” — moments of intense emotion and unhelpful appraisals within traumatic memories. It supports the process of cognitive restructuring by encouraging clients to revisit these moments with current knowledge, allowing space to update distorted beliefs. This resource facilitates both the identification of peri-traumatic beliefs and the development of more adaptive appraisals. It is intended for off-line processing between reliving sessions and can be used in cognitive approaches to PTSD treatment.
Also available as:
PDF ToolUse this tool with your clients
Support therapeutic work between sessions.
Assign
Send the tool securely to your client.
Client completes
Your client works through it on any device, at their own pace.
Review
Review their responses before the next session.
Part of a complete library of evidence-based tools
Worksheets, guides, audio resources and interactive digital tools for mental health professionals.