Simple Thought Record
The Simple Thought Record is a self-monitoring worksheet that helps clients identify and reflect on their automatic thoughts and related emotions.
Simple Thought Record
Hundreds of ‘automatic’ thoughts pop into our minds every day, often without us noticing. Depending on their content, these thoughts can lead us to feel all sorts of emotions, including joy, anxiety, anger, or sadness (to name a few). Our thoughts can also be biased: not every thought we have is 100% accurate or helpful.
This Simple Thought Record can help you become more aware of your automatic thoughts and how they make you feel. This is an important step toward addressing biases in your thinking that affect your mood.
Complete this record whenever you experience a negative thought or change in your mood, or as your therapist has instructed.
Overview
The Simple Thought Record is designed to aid clients in recognizing and understanding the thoughts (images, memories) that trigger their emotional responses. It encourages clients to document emotions and automatic thoughts in the context of specific situations.
This tool serves as an excellent introductory step in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), helping clients to practice self-monitoring for thoughts before moving to more complex cognitive restructuring techniques.
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.