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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Worksheets and Exercises

The following Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – CBT worksheets and exercises can be downloaded free of charge for use by individuals undertaking NHS therapy or by NHS practitioners providing CBT in primary or secondary care settings. These worksheets form part of the Think CBT Workbook, which can also be downloaded as a static PDF at the bottom of this page. Please share or link back to our page to help promote access to our free CBT resources. 

The Think CBT workbook and worksheets are also available as an interactive/dynamic document that can be completed using mobile devices, tablets and computers. The interactive version of the workbook can be purchased for single use only for £25. All Think CBT clients receive a free interactive/dynamic copy of the workbook and worksheets free of charge.

Whilst these worksheets can be used to support self-help or work with other therapists, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is best delivered with the support of a BABCP accredited CBT specialist. If you want to book an appointment with a professionally accredited CBT expert, call (01732) 808626, complete the simple contact form on the right side of this page or email [email protected]  

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Exercise 1 - Problem Statements

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Exercise 2 - Goals for Therapy

Exercise 3 - personal strengths / resources, exercise 4 - costs / benefits of change, exercise 5 - personal values, exercise 6 - the cbt junction model, exercise 7 - the cross-sectional cbt model, exercise 8 - the longitudinal assessment, exercise 9 - layers of cognition, exercise 10 - cognitive distortions, exercise 11 - theory a-b exercise, exercise 12 - the cbt thought record, exercise 13 - cognitive disputation "putting your thoughts on trial", exercise 14 - the cbt continuum, exercise 15 - the self-perception continuum, exercise 16 - the cbt responsibility pie chart, exercise 17 - noticing the thought, exercise 18 - four layers of abstraction, exercise 19 - semantic satiation, exercise 20 - the characterisation game, exercise 21 - speed up / slow down, exercise 22 - word translation, exercise 23 - the time-traveller's log, exercise 23a -the time-traveller's log continued, exercise 24 - leaves on a stream, exercise 25 - the traffic, exercise 26 - clouds in the sky, exercise 27 - taming the ape - an anchoring exercise, exercise 28 - the abc form in functional analysis, exercise 29 - pace activity exercise, exercise 30 - graded hierachy of anxiety provoking situations, exercise 31 - the behavioural experiment, exercise 32 - act exposures exercise, exercise 33 - worry - thinking time, exercise 34 - submissive, assertive & aggressive communication, exercise 35 - sleep hygiene factors, exercises 36 - 38.

(Abdominal Breathing, Aware Breathing & The Five-Minute Daily Recharge Practice)

Exercise 39 - Wheel of Emotions

Exercise 40 - linking feelings and appraisals, exercise 41 - personal resilience plan, exercise 42 - cbt learning log, act with choice exercise, angels and devils worksheet, transdiagnostic model of ocd worksheet, tuning in exercise, penguin-based therapy (pbt), big picture exercise, post-therapy journal, catch it-check it-change it exercise.

A brief cognitive change exercise for identifying and altering negative thinking

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Cognitive Therapy Techniques & Worksheets: Your Ultimate Toolkit

The average person has 70,000 thoughts in a single day (Robertson, 2010). These thoughts (good or bad) determine our emotions, actions, and behaviors.

Distressful emotions and maladaptive behaviors are generally a result of negative or irrational thoughts. Cognitive therapy techniques provide a mental toolkit that can help individuals see the world in a better light (Beck & Haigh, 2014).

Cognitive therapy was originally developed by Aaron Beck (1995) in the 1960s and makes the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The simple act of identifying and changing thinking patterns can alter physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

Let’s find out more about how it works, what can be treated with cognitive therapy techniques, and some recommended books and exercises.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive CBT Exercises for free . These science-based exercises will provide you with detailed insight into positive Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and give you the tools to apply it in your therapy or coaching.

This Article Contains

How does cognitive therapy work 4 examples, what can you treat with cognitive therapy, 4 best cognitive therapy techniques for practitioners, 4 exercises & games for your sessions, 5 questions to ask your therapy clients, helpful worksheets & assessment methods, cognitive therapy books & apps for psychologists, resources from positivepsychology.com, a take-home message.

Cognitive therapy (CT) is based on the cognitive model, which states that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected, and individuals can overcome challenges and reach goals by altering inaccurate thinking, problematic behavior, and distressing emotional responses (Beck & Haigh, 2014).

The cognitive model divides the mind into three levels: automatic thoughts, intermediate beliefs, and core beliefs (Beck & Haigh, 2014). According to Beck and Haigh (2014), CT is designed to be structured and directive, with the purpose of identifying, reality testing, and correcting distorted thoughts.

CT may include testing assumptions by looking for new information that leads to different emotional or behavioral reactions. Change begins by targeting maladaptive thoughts and behaviors and aligning them with client goals.

Such maladaptive thoughts are also known as cognitive distortions or automatic thoughts (from the cognitive model mentioned above).

They include things like (Berger, 2013):

• Overgeneralization
• Magnification of negative events
• Catastrophic thinking
• Minimization of positive events

This video discusses a variety of cognitive distortions and provides practical skills to identify and change them.

1. Cognitive Restructuring

Cognitive restructuring is an example of a crucial technique used in CT. It involves a series of steps (Beck, 2017).

The first step is identifying the problematic thoughts (automatic thoughts or cognitive distortions). These are dysfunctional or false views of oneself, the situation, environment, or the future, and are based on an individual’s core beliefs.

The next step involves rationally disputing these thoughts.

Finally, a rational rebuttal of the automatic/dysfunctional thoughts is created, and the client is encouraged to internalize these thoughts.

2. Socratic questioning

Socratic questioning is a method of cognitive restructuring. This line of questioning challenges faulty assumptions by thinking of reasonable alternatives, evaluating consequences, and creating distance between a thought and action (Beck, 2017).

Some examples of Socratic questioning are:

• “What is another explanation of this situation? What is another reason it happened?” (reasonable alternative)
• “What’s the effect of thinking/believing this? What would happen if you thought differently and let go of this belief?” (evaluating consequences)
• “Imagine a friend or family member in the same situation. What would you tell them or have them do?” (distancing)

3. Guided discovery

Guided discovery is a cognitive therapy technique that empowers clients to find their own answers. Through guided discovery, a therapist highlights behavioral problems and distorted thinking patterns by creating new experiences that lead clients to adopt new skills and take on new perspectives.

This method uses both cognition and behavior change, which enables individuals to find solutions on their own (Beck, 2017). Clients discover more adaptive ways of thinking and coping with stressors in the environment by altering automatic thoughts and cognitive distortions.

4. A look at group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Group CBT simply uses aspects of CT in a group setting. Like most forms of group therapy , group CBT includes a set of ground rules, can be open or closed, and is generally composed of five to 10 members. Therapists leading these groups may use CT concepts on a weekly basis for eight to 16 weeks.

Group therapy can help normalize irrational thoughts and encourage members to get out of the negative self-talk cycle. Shared identity with group members can build a sense of acceptance and support which facilitates cognitive therapy techniques.

CT is also very effective in group settings to help individual members learn new behaviors, redirect faulty thinking patterns, and provide positive reinforcement as new thoughts and behaviors are learned. Watching other group members struggle and succeed with similar issues is another form of encouragement and reinforcement.

Some of the most promising research includes CT treatment for depression, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Cognitive therapy for depression

Cognitive therapy was originally designed to treat depression, and current research supports its effectiveness (Rupke et al., 2006).

It is a treatment process that enables clients to correct false self-beliefs that lead to negative moods and behaviors. A variety of meta-analysis studies have shown that CT is more effective at decreasing levels of depression than no treatment, a placebo, or medication alone (Rupke et al., 2006).

Clients that struggle with depression can learn to recognize negative automatic thoughts and discover alternate thoughts that more closely reflect reality (Rupke et al., 2006).

Behavioral aspects of CT are often used at the beginning of therapy to reinforce pleasurable activities and create inertia. These include scheduling positive activities into the day, finding social support, getting physical activity, and taking care of physical health.

Schizophrenia cognitive treatment

CT can be used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia by helping the client understand the onset of psychotic symptoms. For this population, CT uses a stress-vulnerability model that emphasizes that everyone can experience psychotic symptoms under sufficient stress (Pilling et al., 2002). This helps normalize the psychotic experience so the client feels less anxious about distressful symptoms, and they can be addressed more openly.

CT helps the person with schizophrenia link thoughts and feelings about current symptoms and reevaluate the thoughts in relation to them (Pilling et al., 2002). A therapist can help the client identify specific thoughts and come up with alternate explanations for their symptoms or psychotic episodes.

For example, if the person with schizophrenia believes voices they hear are from Satan, finding alternate explanations and normalizing the voices can make the symptoms less distressful.

How to treat OCD with cognitive therapy

Patients with OCD often come to therapy distressed about thoughts, obsessions, and compulsive behaviors (Valderhaug & Gotestam, 2007). CT helps them identify the automatic and unrealistic thoughts and change their interpretation of the meaning of the thoughts. This reduces anxiety and compulsive actions.

One effective CT technique in treating OCD is a thought record (Valderhaug & Gotestam, 2007). This requires the client to record the obsession, the interpretation of the obsession, what the client was doing at the time, and what (if any) compulsion followed the obsession.

This thought record can be reviewed with the client, and the therapist can use Socratic questioning to challenge the unrealistic belief verbally.

A look at treating PTSD

CT is an effective method of treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its symptoms (Ehlers & Clark, 2000).

Treating PTSD involves challenging negative memories and evaluations of trauma to interrupt thought patterns and behaviors that interfere with daily life.

The first step is helping the client understand the meaning behind the trauma and how it can exaggerate current feelings of threat. A therapist can help the individual find new meaning to the trauma and reevaluate the experience. A meaningful narrative account of the trauma can be created starting before the event and ending after the client feels secure and safe (Ehlers & Clark, 2000).

This process might involve writing a comprehensive account of the traumatic event, reliving the experience through imagination, or revisiting the location where it happened creating an element of “exposure.” This exposure opens a window to use cognitive restructuring that alters the problematic thinking associated with the trauma.

Download 3 Free Positive CBT Exercises (PDF)

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CT is a short-term and solution-oriented approach to change maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. A variety of practical cognitive therapy techniques (some previously touched on) are used depending on the client’s needs and goals for therapy.

1. Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is an effective CT technique used for anxiety and phobias. It involves exposing the client to a person, place, situation, or object that creates fear. The idea is to confront fears in a safe setting and overcome negative emotions and reactions.

2. Thought recording

Creating a thought journal is a cornerstone for CT. Clients capture, evaluate, and restructure negative or anxious automatic thoughts. Our article What Is a Thought Diary? provides more information and prompts for starting a thought journal.

3. Role-play

Role-play is an effective technique in CT. A therapist can help a client practice or experience a situation/event in a safe space by acting out the interaction.

For example, if a client is anxious about an upcoming interview, the therapist can act as the future employer and walk through questions and responses. With practice, experience, and reassuring feedback, the client’s anxiety may subside, and confidence can increase.

4. Pleasurable activity scheduling

Activity scheduling and behavioral activation are methods of putting action before thoughts or motivation. Scheduling positive activities and doing them results in more positive thoughts and feelings.

For example, scheduling a morning walk or evening bath can provide energy in the morning and relaxation at night. In the same way that thoughts and emotions influence behavior, behavior can influence our thoughts and feelings.

1. Thought-challenging games

As mentioned, challenging automatic thoughts is a core component of CT. It is fun to make a game of this to help individuals tangibly recognize and challenge negative thoughts.

For example, use a small ball to play the game “Catch That Thought.” Throw the ball and have the client catch it, then identify and challenge a negative thought associated with a given situation. Once the thought is identified, the client can come up with a challenge to the thought and throw the ball back.

2. Exposure games

Help clients confront fears and phobias in a safe and controlled environment.

For example, the game “Spider Phobia” involves gradually exposing the individual to pictures of spiders either through a computer screen or with drawings. The pictures will become more realistic, and the client will receive a prize or reward for remaining calm (low heart rate, steady breathing) while viewing the pictures.

3. Three Cs exercise: Catch, check, change

The three Cs exercise has a client catch the thought, check the thought, and then change the thought through verbal dialogue and writing the answers on paper.

4. Three columns exercise

The client will make three columns on a sheet of paper or a spreadsheet. It is best to do this when the client feels most anxious.

The first column is the “automatic thought” or the negative self-talk (for example: I am such a loser for messing up the presentation!).

Look for a cognitive distortion to label the thought in the second column (overgeneralization, all-or-nothing thinking, making assumptions, catastrophic thinking, etc.).

In the third column, write a rational response or a replacement for the automatic thought.

Questioning faulty assumptions, cognitive distortions, and automatic thoughts is a foundational component of CT.

Examples of these questioning methods include the following:

• In order to refine your viewpoint to make it accurate, it’s important to challenge it occasionally to consider whether there are reasons it might not be true. What do you think the strongest argument against this perspective is?
• What would you have to learn or experience to change your mind about your current belief?
• What initially convinced you that your current thought is accurate?
• What are three pieces of evidence that contradict this thought or idea?
• Can you describe specific benefits you receive from holding this belief or thinking this way?

Worksheets and assessments can be very helpful in cognitive therapy. They provide concrete guides to identifying, understanding, and changing thoughts, which is the premise of CT.

ANTS are automatic negative thoughts. The Identifying ANTS worksheet walks clients through identifying them, writing them out, and challenging them. This exercise enables clients to do this daily, outside of sessions, to catch the automatic thought and make changes before it leads to a negative emotional or behavioral response.

Having a repertoire of positive thoughts makes it easier to replace negative ones quickly. The Positive Replacement Thoughts worksheet guides clients to review potential positives and have them on hand when difficult situations or triggers arise in life.

Validated rating scale

The Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale is a widely used and validated measure to assess the effectiveness of CT from a client’s perspective. Both clients and supervisors can use this scale to identify areas of weakness and potential areas of growth and maximize every aspect of CT for optimal effectiveness.

The evidence-based nature and effectiveness of CT has made it a popular topic for books and apps that can be useful for both clinicians and their clients.

1. Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy – David D. Burns

It provides practical guidelines to navigate difficult situations and reframe stressors by simply catching and changing thoughts. It helps individuals with depression, anxiety, difficult relationships, and low self-esteem to “feel good” every day.

Find the book on Amazon .

2. Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders – Aaron T. Beck

This book was created to help with a variety of emotional disorders.

It is based on the premise that mood disorders are due to faulty assumptions of ourselves and the world. Recognizing this and changing thoughts and beliefs leads to better moods and more stable emotions.

Recommended apps

As mentioned previously, exposure therapy is a great technique used in CT. The Imagery Based Exposure worksheet uses imagery to create a hierarchy of fear-based situations and helps clients imagine overcoming each step. This can be an effective way of dealing with fear and anxiety in a safe and secure setting.

Our automatic thoughts are generally false opinions rather than facts. The Facts or Opinions worksheet provides examples of these automatic thoughts (or cognitive distortions) and asks the client to label each statement as either true or false. This can provide a concrete look at how our thoughts are not reality.

The article CBT Techniques: 25 Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Worksheets provides more detailed and helpful worksheets on CBT, which is a form of CT using the same principles and core beliefs.

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others through CBT, check out this collection of 17 validated positive CBT tools for practitioners . Use them to help others overcome unhelpful thoughts and feelings and develop more positive behaviors.

Cognitive therapy is an evidence-based approach to treating a variety of mental health conditions. It has been around for decades, and cognitive therapy techniques remain an effective way to improve mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.

CT is based on the cognitive model, which links our thoughts, behaviors, actions, and emotions. A fundamental principle behind CT is that a thought precedes a mood, and both are interrelated with an individual’s environment, physical reaction, and subsequent behavior (Rupke et al., 2006).

Our minds are incredibly powerful and can determine the quality of our relationships, careers, health, and emotional state. Learning to use the mind in a positive way can ultimately improve every aspect of life.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. For more information, don’t forget to download our three Positive CBT Exercises for free .

• Beck, J. S. (1995). Cognitive therapy: Basics and beyond . Guilford Press.
• Beck, J. S. (2017). Questions and answers about cognitive therapy. Beck Institute Newsletter , 32 , 12–20.
• Beck, A. T., & Haigh, E. P. (2014). Advances in cognitive therapy and therapy: The generic cognitive model. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology , 10 , 1–24.
• Berger, D. (2013). Cognitive behavioral therapy: Escape from the binds of tight methodology. Psychiatric Times , 30 , 49–62.
• Ehlers, A., & Clark, D. (2000). A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behavior Research and Therapy , 38 , 319–345.
• Pilling, S., Bebbington, P., Kuipers, E., Garety, P., Geddes, J., Orbach, G., & Morgan, C. (2002). Psychological treatments in schizophrenia: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of social skills training and cognitive remediation. Psychological Medicine , 32 , 783–791.
• Robertson, D. (2010). The philosophy of cognitive-behavioral therapy: Stoicism as rational and cognitive psychotherapy . Karmac.
• Rupke, S., Blecke, D., & Renfrow, M. (2006). Cognitive therapy for depression. American Family Physician , 73 (1), 83–86.
• Valderhaug, L., & Gotestam, P. (2007). An open clinical trial of cognitive-behavior therapy in children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder administered in regular outpatient clinics. Behavioral Research Therapy , 45 , 577–589.

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CBT Worksheets, Handouts, And Skills-Development Audio: Therapy Resources for Mental Health Professionals

Resource type

Therapy tool.

"Should" Statements

Information handouts.

A Guide To Emotions (Psychology Tools For Living Well)

Books & Chapters

A Memory Of Caring For Others

A Memory Of Feeling Cared For

Activity Diary (Hourly Time Intervals)

Activity Diary (No Time Intervals)

Activity Menu

Activity Planning

Activity Selection

All-Or-Nothing Thinking

Alternative Action Formulation

Am I Experiencing Anorexia?

Am I Experiencing Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?

Am I Experiencing Bulimia?

Am I Experiencing Burnout?

Am I Experiencing Death Anxiety?

Am I Experiencing Depersonalization And Derealization?

Am I Experiencing Depression?

Am I Experiencing Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

Am I Experiencing Health Anxiety?

Am I Experiencing Low Self-Esteem?

Am I Experiencing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

Am I Experiencing Panic Attacks?

Am I Experiencing Panic Disorder?

Am I Experiencing Perfectionism?

Am I Experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Am I Experiencing Psychosis?

Am I Experiencing Social Anxiety?

An Introduction To CBT (Psychology Tools For Living Well)

Anger - Self-Monitoring Record

Anger Decision Sheet

Anger Diary (Archived)

Anger Self-Monitoring Record (Archived)

Anger Thought Challenging Record

Anxiety - Self-Monitoring Record

Anxiety Self-Monitoring Record (Archived)

Approach Instead Of Avoiding (Psychology Tools For Overcoming Panic)

Arbitrary Inference

Assertive Communication

Assertive Responses

Attention - Self-Monitoring Record

Attention Training Experiment

Attention Training Practice Record

Audio Collection: Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion

Audio Collection: Psychology Tools For Mindfulness

Audio Collection: Psychology Tools For Overcoming PTSD

Audio Collection: Psychology Tools For Relaxation

Autonomic Nervous System

Avoidance Hierarchy (Archived)

Barriers Abusers Overcome In Order To Abuse

Before I Blame Myself And Feel Guilty

Behavioral Activation Activity Diary

Behavioral Activation Activity Planning Diary

Behavioral Experiment

Behavioral Experiment (Portrait Format)

Behaviors In Panic (Psychology Tools For Overcoming Panic)

Being A Compassionate Person

Being With Difficulty (Audio)

Belief Driven Formulation

Belief-O-Meter (CYP)

Body Posture

Body Scan (Audio)

Body Sensations In Panic (Psychology Tools For Overcoming Panic)

Boundaries - Self-Monitoring Record

Breathing To Activate Your Soothing System

Breathing To Calm The Body Sensations Of Panic (Psychology Tools For Overcoming Panic)

Broadening Your Perspective

Catastrophizing

Catching Your Thoughts (CYP)

CBT Appraisal Model

CBT Daily Activity Diary With Enjoyment And Mastery Ratings

CBT Thought Record Portrait

CFT Calm Place

CFT Compassion Formulation

Challenging Your Negative Thinking (Archived)

Checking Certainty And Doubt

Checklist For Better Sleep

Classical Conditioning

Coercive Methods For Enforcing Compliance

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Anorexia Nervosa (Fairburn, Cooper, Shafran, 2003)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD: Veale, 2004)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Bulimia Nervosa (Fairburn, Cooper, Shafran, 2003)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Clinical Perfectionism (Shafran, Cooper, Fairburn, 2002)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Depersonalization (Hunter, Phillips, Chalder, Sierra, David, 2003)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Fear Of Body Sensations

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD: Dugas, Gagnon, Ladouceur, Freeston, 1998)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Health Anxiety (Salkovskis, Warwick, Deale, 2003)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Insomnia (Harvey, 2002)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Intolerance Of Uncertainty (Hebert, Dugas, 2019)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Low Self-Esteem (Fennell, 1997)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD: Salkovskis, Forrester, Richards, 1998)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Panic (Clark, 1986)

Cognitive Behavioral Model of Perfectionism (Shafran, Egan, Wade, 2010)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD: Whalley, Cane, 2017)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD: Ehlers & Clark, 2000)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Social Phobia (Clark, Wells, 1995)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of The Relapse Process (Marlatt & Gordon, 1985)

Cognitive Behavioral Model Of Tinnitus (McKenna, Handscombe, Hoare, Hall, 2014)

What is psychology tools.

Psychology Tools develops and publishes evidence-based psychotherapy resources and tools for mental health professionals. Our online library gives you access to everything you need to deliver more effective therapy and support your practice. With a wide range of topics and resource types covered, you can feel confident knowing you’ll always have a range of accessible and effective materials to support your clients, whatever challenges they are facing, whatever stage you are at, and however you work.

Choose from assessment and case formulations to psychoeducation, interventions and skills development, CBT worksheets, exercises, and much more. Our resources include detailed therapist guidance, references and instructions, so they are equally suitable for those with less experience but who want to expand their practice. Each resource explains how to work with the material most effectively, and how to use it with clients.

Are these resources suitable for you?

Psychology Tools is used by thousands of professionals all over the world as a key part of their practice and preparation, and our resources are designed to be used with clients who experience psychological difficulties or distress. Professionals who use our resources include:

• Clinical, Counseling, and Practitioner Psychologists
• Family Doctors / General Practitioners
• Licensed Clinical Social Workers
• Mental Health Nurses
• Psychiatrists
• Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners
• Psychotherapists
• Therapists (CBT Therapists, ACT Therapists, DBT Therapists)

Psychology Tools resources are perfect for individuals, teams and students, whatever their preferred modality, or career stage.

What kinds of resources are available at Psychology Tools?

Psychology Tools offers a range of relatable, engaging, and evidence-based resources to ensure that your clients get the most out of therapy or counseling. Each resource has been carefully designed with accessibility in mind and is informed by best practice guidelines and the latest scientific research.

Therapeutic exercises are used in many evidence-based psychotherapies including cognitive behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, compassion-focused therapy, schema therapy, emotion-focused therapy, systemic family-based therapies, and several others.

Therapists and counselors benefit from incorporating exercises into their work. They can be used to:

• Introduce and explain key concepts.
• Collect information about clients’ difficulties.
• Bring therapeutic ideas to life.
• Keep therapy active and engaging.
• Alleviate distress and/or reduce problematic symptoms.
• Practice new skills and coping strategies.
• Develop new insights and self-awareness.
• Give clients a sense of accomplishment and progress.

Psychology Tools offers a variety of exercises that you can use with your clients as a part of therapy or counseling. These interventions can be incorporated into your sessions, assigned as homework tasks, or used stand-alone interventions. Many of our exercises are either evidence-based (meaning they have been shown to effectively treat certain difficulties) or evidence-derived (meaning they form part of a treatment program that has been shown to effectively treat certain difficulties).

The exercises available at Psychology Tools have a variety of applications. You can use them to:

• Develop case conceptualizations , formulations, and treatment plans.
• Address specific difficulties, such as worry, insomnia, and self-focused attention.
• Introduce clients to new skills, such as grounding , problem-solving, relaxation, and assertiveness .
• Support key interventions, such as exposure and response prevention, safety planning with high-risk clients, and perspective-taking.
• Plan treatments and prepare for supervision.

Psychology Tools exercises have been developed with practicality and convenience in mind. Most exercises include simple step-by-step instructions so that clients can use them independently or with the support of their therapist or counselor. In addition, therapist guidance is available for each exercise, which includes a detailed description of the task, relevant background information, an overview of its aims and potential uses in therapy, and simple instructions for its delivery. A comprehensive list of references is also provided so that you can access key studies and further your understanding of each exercise’s applications in psychotherapy.

Did you know that 40 – 80% of medical information is immediately forgotten by patients (Kessels, 2003)? The same is probably true of therapy and counseling, so clients will almost always benefit from having access to additional written information.

Psychology Tools information handouts provide clear, concise, and reliable information, which will empower your clients to take an active role in their treatment. Learning about their mental health, helpful strategies and techniques, and other psychoeducation topics helps clients better understand and overcome their difficulties. Moreover, clients who understand the process and content of therapy are more likely to invest in the process and commit to making positive changes.

Psychology Tools information handouts can help your clients:

• Understand their difficulties and what keeps them going.
• Learn what therapy is and how it works.
• Understand what they are doing in therapy and why.
• Remember and build upon what has been discussed during sessions.
• Create a personalized collection of resources that can used between appointments.

Our illustrated information handouts cover a wide variety topics. Each has been informed by scientific evidence, best practice guidelines, and expert opinion, ensuring they are both credible and consistent with evidence-based therapies. Topics featured among these resources include:

• ‘ What is… ’ handouts. These one-page resources provide a concise summary of common mental health problems (e.g., anxiety , depression , low self-esteem ), key therapeutic approaches (such as cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing , and compassion-focused therapy), and psychological mechanisms which maintain the problem (such as worry and rumination ).
• ‘ What keeps it going… ’ handouts. These handouts explain the key mechanisms that maintain difficulties such as burnout, panic disorder, PTSD, and perfectionism. You can use them to inform your case conceptualization or as a roadmap in therapy.
• ‘ Recognizing… ’ handouts. These guides can help you identify and assess specific disorders, comparing key diagnostic criteria taken from leading diagnostic manuals.
• Simple explanations of key psychological concepts, such as safety behaviors , psychological flexibility, thought suppression, and unhelpful thinking styles .
• Overviews of important psychological theories, such as operant conditioning and exposure.

Each information handout comes with guidance written specifically for therapists and counselors. It provides suggestions for introducing psychoeducation topics, facilitating helpful discussions related to the handout, and ensuring the content is relevant to your clients.

Worksheets are a core ingredient of many evidence-based therapies such as CBT. Our worksheets take many forms (e.g., diaries, diagrams, activity planners, records, and questionnaires) and can be used throughout the course of therapy.

How you incorporate worksheets into therapy or counselling depends on each client’s difficulties, goals, and stage of recovery. You can use them to:

• Assess and monitor clients’ difficulties.
• Inform treatment plans and guide decision-making.
• Teach clients new skills such as ‘self-monitoring’ or ‘thought challenging’.
• Ensure that clients apply their learning in the real world.
• Track their progress over time.
• Help clients to take an active role in their recovery.

Clients also benefit from using worksheets. These tools can help them:

• Become more aware of their difficulties.
• Identify when, how, and why these problems occur.
• Practice using new skills and techniques.
• Express and explore difficult feelings.
• Process difficult events.
• Consolidate and integrate insights from therapy.
• Support their self-reflection.
• Feel empowered and build self-efficacy.

Psychology Tools offers a wide variety of worksheets. They include general forms that are widely applicable, disorder-specific worksheets, and logs that are used in specific therapies such as CBT , schema therapy, and compassion-focused therapy . These resources are typically available in editable or fillable formats, so that they can be tailored to your client’s needs and used in a flexible manner.

Guides & self-help

People want clear guidance on mental health, whether for themselves or a loved one.

Our ‘ Understanding… ’ series is designed to introduce common mental health difficulties such as depression, PTSD, or social anxiety. Each of these guide uses a clear and accessible structure so that readers can understand them without any prior therapy knowledge. Topics addressed in each guide include:

• What the problem is.
• How it arises.
• Where it might come from.
• What keeps it going.
• How the problem can be treated.

Other guides address important topics such as trauma and dissociation, or the effects of perfectionism. They usually contain a mixture of psychoeducation, practical exercises and skills development. They promote knowledge, optimism, and positive action related to these difficulties, and have been informed by current research and evidence-based treatments, ensuring they are consistent with best practices.

Therapists can use Psychology Tools guides in several ways:

• As a screening tool. Clients can read the guide to see if the difficulty or topic is relevant to them.
• As psychoeducation. Each guide provides essential information related to the difficulty or topic so that client can develop a better understanding of it.
• As self-help. Each guide describes key skills and techniques that can be used to overcome the difficulty.

Each guide contains informative illustrations, practical examples, and simple instructions so that clients can easily relate to the content and apply it to their difficulties.

Therapy audio

Audio exercises are a particularly convenient and engaging way help your clients and can add variety to your therapeutic toolkit. Psychology Tools audio resources can help your clients:

• Augment and consolidate their learning in therapy.
• Practice new techniques.
• Integrate skills and practices into their daily lives.
• Access additional support when they need it.
• Create a sense a continuity between your meetings.

A variety of audio resources are available at Psychology Tools. Each one has been developed and recorded by highly experienced clinical psychologists and can be easily integrated into your therapeutic practice. Audio collections include:

• Psychology Tools for Developing Self-Compassion
• Psychology Tools for Relaxation
• Psychology Tools for Mindfulness
• Psychology Tools for Overcoming PTSD

Many of these audio resources are widely applicable (e.g., mindfulness-based tools), although problem-specific resources are also available (e.g., tools for overcoming PTSD). You can use these tools:

• During your therapy sessions.
• As a homework task for clients to complete.
• As a stand-alone intervention or ongoing part of therapy.

Treatments That Work®

Authored by leading psychologists including David Barlow, Michelle Craske, and Edna Foa,  Treatments That Work ® is a series of workbooks based on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Each pair of books in the series – therapist guide and workbook – contains step by step procedures for delivering evidence-based psychological interventions. Clinical illustrations and worksheets are provided throughout.

You can use these workbooks:

• To plan treatment for a range of specific difficulties including depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety, and substance use.
• As a self-help intervention that you guide the client through during sessions.
• As a supplement to therapy, which clients work through independently.
• To consolidate the content of your sessions.
• As an ongoing intervention at the end of treatment (e.g., for difficulties that haven’t been fully addressed).

Each book is available to download chapter-by-chapter, and Psychology Tools members with a currently active subscription to our ‘Complete’ plan are licensed to share copies with their clients.

Archived resources

We work hard to keep all resources up to date, so we regularly review and update our library. However, we understand that you might get used to a certain version of a resource as part of your workflow. Instead of removing older versions, we keep them in our archive so that you can still access them if you want to. We also clearly explain if an improved version is available, so you can choose which you prefer.

Series and ranges

As well as many topic-specific resources, we also publish a variety of ranges and series.    

• The ‘What is…’ series. These one-page resources cover a range of common mental health problems. In client friendly language they provide a concise summary of the problem, what it can feel like, what maintains it and an overview of key evidence-based therapeutic approaches (e.g., CBT, EMDR, and compassion-focused therapy) to treatment.
• The ‘What keeps it going…’ series . These are one-page diagrams that explain what tends to maintain common mental health conditions such as burnout, panic disorder, PTSD, and perfectionism. You can use them to inform your case conceptualization or as a roadmap in therapy. They provide a quick and easy way for clients to understand why their disorder persists and how it might be interrupted.
• The ‘Recognizing…’ series can help you identify and assess specific disorders, comparing key diagnostic criteria from leading diagnostic manuals.
• The ‘Understanding…’ series is a collection of psychoeducation guides for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, they are comprehensive sources of information for your clients. Concepts are explained in an easily digestible way with plenty of case examples and diagrams. Each guide covers symptoms, treatments and some key maintenance factors .
• The ‘Guide to…’ resources give clients a deep dive into a condition or treatment approach. They cover a mixture of information, psychoeducation, practical exercises and skills development to help clients learn to manage their condition. Each of these guides offers psychoeducation about the topic alongside a range of practical exercises with clear instructions to help clients identify, monitor, and address their symptoms.
• The ‘ Self-monitoring’ collection provides problem-specific records designed to help you and your clients get the most from this essential but often overlooked technique. Covering a broad range of conditions, these worksheets allow you to give clients a tool that is targeted to their experience, with relevant language and prompts.
• The ‘Formulation’ series provides a client-friendly adaptation of cognitive behavioral models for disorders including panic, PTSD, and social anxiety. These useful tools can help you and your clients come to a shared understanding of their difficulties, and can help you to develop a roadmap for therapy.  

Multilingual library of translations

Did you know that Psychology Tools has the largest online, searchable library of multilingual therapy resources? We aim to make our resources accessible to everyone. With over 3500 resources across 70 languages, you can give clients resources in their native language, enabling a deeper understanding and engagement with the treatment process. Translations are carried out by specially selected professional translators with experience of psychology, and our pool of volunteer mental health professionals. We also make sure that the resource design is the same for each translated resource so that you can be confident you know what section you are looking at, even if you don’t speak the language.

Simply find the resource you want to use, then explore which languages that resource is available in, or you can see all the resources available in a particular language by using our search filters.  

What formats are the resources available in, and how can I use them?

People work in different ways. Our formats are designed to reflect that, so you can choose the style that suits how you and your client want to work. Psychology Tools resources are perfectly formatted to work whether you practice face to face, remotely, or use a blended approach.

• Professional version. Designed for clinicians, this comprehensive option includes everything you need to use the resource confidently. As well as the resource, each PDF contains useful information, including therapist guidance explaining how to use the resource most effectively, descriptions that provide theoretical context, instructions, therapist prompts, and references. Some resources also include case examples and annotations where appropriate.
• Client version.  This is a blank PDF of the resource, with client-friendly instructions where appropriate, but without the theoretical description. These are ideal for printing and using in-session, or giving to a client.
• Fillable PDFs are great for clients who want to work with resources online instead of on paper. Your client can fill in and save the resource on a computer, before sending it back to you without the need for a printer. This format is also useful if you have remote sessions with clients and want to work through a resource on screen together.
• Editable PowerPoint documents are useful if you want to make any changes to the resource structure, or personalize it for your client.
• Editable Word documents are also useful if you want to make changes to the resource, and are more suited to printing.

How do we design our resources to support your practice?

Our resources are informed by evidence-based treatments, best practice guidelines, and the latest published research. They are written by highly experienced therapists and experts in mental health, ensuring they are effective and as up to date as possible. In addition, every resource goes through a rigorous peer review process to confirm they are accurate and easy to use.

Each resource is designed with both clients’ and therapists’ needs in mind. For clients, that means using clear, user-friendly language, as well as plenty of visual and case examples, illustrations, diagrams and vignettes that readers can relate to. They include information on how the resource can help them, how they should use it, and other useful tips.

We also include useful information and descriptions for clinicians to help them use the resource most effectively. The therapist versions of each resource contain therapist guidance, prompts, instructions, and full references. They outline how the resource can be used and what types of problems it could be helpful for.

• Designed to make strong theory-practice links . We pay close attention to the theory underpinning our resources, which provides therapists with useful context and helps them make theory-practice links. Having a greater understanding of each tool ensures best practice.
• One concept per page. Wherever possible, we create resources using the principle of one therapeutic concept per page, as this ensures that we have distilled the idea down to its essence. This makes each tool simple for therapists to communicate and easy for clients to grasp. We also pay close attention to visual layout and design, to make our resources as accessible as possible. Every resource aims to maximize clinical benefit and engagement, without overwhelming readers.
• Action focused. Resources are designed to be interactive, collaborative and goal-focused, with prompts to facilitate self-monitoring of progress and goals.

How can I use this page?

This page is where you can explore all the resources in the Psychology Tools library. The different search filters on the left-hand side enable you to customize your search, depending on what you need. Materials are organized by resource type, problem, and therapy tool, though you can also filter by language or use the search box. You can find more detailed instructions for how to find resources here .  

Can I share resources directly with my clients?

If you have a paid Psychology Tools membership, you are licensed to share resources with clients in the course of your professional work. You can even email resources (even large audio collections) directly to your clients from our website. All emails are secure and encrypted, so it is a quick and easy way to save you time and facilitate clients’ self-practice.

What if I need more help?

We have a wide range of ‘ How-to’ guides and an FAQ in our help centre , which answers questions on how to use the library and tools, such as ‘ How do I download resources? ’ or ‘ How do I email resources to my clients directly from the website? ’.

Kessels, R. P. C. (2003). Patients’ memory for medical information . Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 96 , 219-222.

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CBT Worksheet for Anxiety

Use our free printable CBT anxiety worksheets PDF to effectively manage your anxiety and learn how to challenge your negative thoughts.

What Is A CBT Worksheet For Anxiety?

CBT worksheets for anxiety are tools used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help individuals identify and challenge negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to their anxiety. These worksheets are intended to assist people in recognizing and changing negative thought patterns, as well as developing healthier coping strategies.

CBT worksheets for anxiety are commonly used in conjunction with therapy sessions to assist patients in practicing new skills outside of the session. These worksheets can also be used as a stand-alone resource for those who are unable to attend therapy sessions or as an adjunct to other types of treatment.

Using CBT worksheets for anxiety can help you manage your symptoms and improve your overall mental health. Individuals can use the worksheet to gain a better understanding of their thoughts and emotions, create a plan of action to manage anxiety, and track their progress over time. These worksheets can also be used to identify triggers and assist individuals in developing coping strategies to deal with stressful situations.

These worksheets are truly a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their mental health and reduce the impact of anxiety in their daily lives.

Printable CBT Worksheets For Anxiety

Download this CBT Worksheet For Anxiety and help your clients effectively manage their anxiety.

How To Use This CBT worksheet For Anxiety

Step 1: identify the triggering situation that causes anxiety..

The first step in using this worksheet is identifying the situation or event that causes your anxiety. It could be a specific social event, an upcoming test, or even a general fear that you have on a regular basis. Make a short description of the situation.

Step 2: Rate your anxiety level on a scale of 1-10.

Next, rate your level of anxiety on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. As you work through the worksheet, this will help you understand the intensity of your anxiety and track your progress.

Step 3: Identify negative thoughts that contribute to your anxiety.

Think about the negative thoughts that arise when you encounter the triggering situation. These thoughts frequently contribute to your anxious feelings. Write them down as precisely as possible.

Step 4: Write down the emotions you feel in response to your thoughts.

Identify the emotions you experience in response to your negative thoughts. You might feel scared, nervous, or overwhelmed, for example. Make a detailed record of your emotions.

Step 5: List the specific behaviors you exhibit in response to your anxious thoughts and emotions.

Identify the specific behaviors that occur in response to your anxious thoughts and emotions. This could include completely avoiding the situation, engaging in compulsive behaviors, or experiencing physical symptoms like sweating or shaking. Make a detailed note of these behaviors.

Step 6: Challenge negative beliefs.

Now, challenge your negative beliefs by thinking of more realistic alternatives. These thoughts should call into question any negative beliefs you have about yourself or the situation. Make a detailed list of them.

Step 7: List the emotions you would like to experience in response to the situation.

Identify the emotions you want to feel in response to the situation. These may include feelings of calm, confidence, or relaxation. Make a detailed list of them.

Step 8: Identify healthy and constructive behaviors to exhibit in response to your alternative thoughts and emotions.

Make a list of the healthy and constructive behaviors you want to exhibit in response to your opposing thoughts and emotions. These actions should assist you in dealing with the situation in a healthy and constructive manner. Make a detailed note of these behaviors.

Step 9: Develop a plan of action to manage your anxiety and achieve your goals.

Finally, create a strategy for dealing with your anxiety in this situation. Make a list of the specific steps you'll take to deal with your anxiety and achieve your goals . This plan should include the alternative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that you identified in the worksheet. Maintain your plan and refer to it as needed.

CBT Worksheets For Anxiety Example (Sample)

We have provided a sample template for CBT worksheets for anxiety that you can use as a guide when filling out the worksheet. To help manage your anxiety, follow the steps and fill in your own responses.

You can see how the different sections work together to identify your anxious thoughts, feelings, and behaviors by using the example CBT worksheets for anxiety. Following this template will teach you how to challenge negative thinking and create a plan of action for dealing with anxiety in various situations. 

Make your own personalized CBT worksheet for anxiety using this example as a starting point to work through your triggers and develop coping strategies that work for you.

Download this CBT Worksheets For Anxiety Example (Sample) here:

Who Can Use these Printable CBT Worksheets For Anxiety (PDF)?

Individuals seeking to manage their anxiety symptoms on their own can use CBT worksheets for anxiety . 

These worksheets are also commonly used by mental health professionals such as therapists, counselors, and psychologists. They can use these worksheets in their therapy sessions with clients or assign them as homework to help their clients continue their progress outside of therapy.

More healthcare professionals such as psychiatrists and primary care physicians may also use CBT worksheets for anxiety as part of their patient's treatment plans. These worksheets can be a useful resource for patients who want to manage their anxiety symptoms and gain a better understanding of how their thoughts and behaviors affect their mental health.

CBT worksheets for anxiety can also help parents, teachers, and school counselors educate their children and students on how to manage their anxiety symptoms. The worksheets can be customized for various age groups and used in a variety of settings, including classrooms and counseling offices.

Overall, anxiety CBT worksheets are a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand their anxiety symptoms and improve their mental health. They are versatile and effective tools in the field of mental health because they can be used in a variety of settings and by a variety of professionals.

Why Is This Form Useful For Therapists?

Therapists can incorporate CBT worksheets for anxiety into their clients' treatment plans. CBT is a well-known and effective method of treating anxiety disorders. These worksheets can assist therapists in the following areas:

• Teach clients the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
• Determine whether you have negative or irrational thoughts that are contributing to your anxiety symptoms.
• Create alternate, more realistic thoughts that can aid in the reduction of anxiety symptoms.
• Use relaxation and mindfulness techniques to help you relax.
• Encourage clients to participate in activities that they enjoy and that will help them to forget about their anxious thoughts and feelings.
• Track progress and identify areas that may require additional therapy.

Benefits of CBT Worksheets For Anxiety Template

Using CBT worksheets for anxiety can have a range of benefits, including:

Increased self-awareness

Individuals can gain a better understanding of their anxiety and how it affects them by identifying and reflecting on their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Empowerment

By providing individuals with practical tools and strategies for managing their symptoms, the worksheets can help them feel more in control of their anxiety.

Accountability

Worksheets can assist individuals in tracking their progress over time and identifying areas that may require additional attention or work.

Flexibility

CBT worksheets are adaptable to different situations and individuals, making them a versatile tool for anxiety management.

Individuals who are uncomfortable sharing their anxiety with others may find CBT worksheets to be a private and confidential way to work on their anxiety.

Improved coping skills

CBT worksheets can assist individuals in developing healthier coping mechanisms for managing anxiety, rather than relying on negative coping strategies that may exacerbate symptoms.

Reduced symptoms

By using CBT worksheets on a regular basis, individuals can gradually reduce the severity and frequency of their anxiety symptoms.

Cost-effective

CBT worksheets are a less expensive alternative to traditional therapy because they can be accessed and completed at home, eliminating the need for costly sessions with a therapist.

Increased motivation

The worksheets can help individuals feel more motivated to take action towards managing their anxiety, as they provide a clear plan of action and achievable goals.

Improved communication

When used in conjunction with a therapist, CBT worksheets can help to improve communication between the individual and the therapist , as they provide a common language and framework for discussing anxiety symptoms and treatment strategies.

Commonly asked questions

CBT worksheets for anxiety are resources that are designed to help individuals manage their anxiety symptoms using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques. These worksheets usually include prompts or questions to help individuals identify their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors related to their anxiety and develop alternative, more realistic ways of thinking and behaving.

People can use these worksheets whenever they are experiencing anxiety symptoms, such as excessive worry, fear, or nervousness. They can be used in a variety of settings, such as therapy sessions, classrooms, or at home.

CBT worksheets for anxiety are usually created by mental health professionals or adapted from existing resources. They include prompts or questions to help people identify their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors related to their anxiety and develop alternative ways of thinking and behaving.

Why Should You Use Carepatron for CBT Software?

Carepatron is a powerful and easy-to-use software platform created specifically for mental health professionals. Therapists can use Carepatron to create and customize their own anxiety CBT worksheets, as well as access a library of pre-made worksheets and resources.

In addition to its user-friendly interface, Carepatron provides a plethora of features that make it an ideal platform for CBT therapy. Customizable treatment plans, progress tracking, and secure communication between therapists and clients are among them.

Carepatron is an excellent choice for therapists looking for an easy-to-use, comprehensive platform for CBT therapy. Carepatron can assist you in providing the best possible care to your clients and achieving positive outcomes.

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CBT What If Worksheet

What is the theory behind this CBT What If worksheet?

‘What If…?’ Questions in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are also referred to as cognitive distortions or thinking errors. Individuals seeking therapy have a lot of these what if questions in their minds which are not just indicative of their worries and anxiety pertaining to an uncertain future but also thinking errors making them focus entirely on the negative aspects. 

How will the worksheet help?

This worksheet will help clients note down the negative what if questions that are causing them to worry and replace them with positive what if questions. This exercise will help them shift their perspective and look at things from a positive aspect as well. It will also help the therapist identify the subjects of the client’s worries. 

How to use the worksheet?

Instruct the client to first write down all the negative what if questions that they have in their mind. Then tell them to modify those questions and make them positive what if questions by thinking about the positive alternative of their expected negative outcomes. 

Was this helpful?

Wilkinson, A., Meares, K. & Freeston, M. (2011). CBT for Worry and Generalised Anxiety Disorder . SAGE Publications.

• CBT Worksheets

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Worksheets

What Are CBT Worksheets?

Watch a video about CBT Worksheets here…

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a popular therapy used to help people suffering from emotional, psychological and even physical problems. Its goal is to empower people to manage their problems by controlling how they think and behave .

Learn From The Experts – Read more

For CBT to be successful, one of the critical requirements is meticulous record keeping . For easy assessment of the progress, each session has to be recorded in detailed. This is where CBT worksheets come in handy.

A CBT worksheet is a standardized sheet which is designed to simplify the implementation of CBT. Its ultimate goal is to enable a therapist to record pertinent information which is necessary for the success of the therapy.

Types of CBT Worksheets

There are actually two major types of CBT worksheets. These are implementation worksheets and tracking worksheets .

CBT implementation worksheets are intended to help therapists in designing and implementing CBT treatment plans . These worksheets are used by therapists when carrying out problem analysis, therapy scheduling, session planning, and other critical implementation tasks.

These worksheets usually present a template which therapists can use to design treatment plans. This makes it easy for any therapist to create a CBT treatment strategy which conforms to all the required standards.

CBT tracking worksheets are intended for tracking the progress of the therapy. They are basically used to record the progress of the therapy. These records are essential for analyzing the different strategies employed by the therapist to see what is working, and what isn’t working. This enables the therapist to be able to make informed decisions at critical points during the therapy.

The CBT tracking worksheets are of two types i.e. therapist-administered worksheets and self-practice worksheets.

Therapist Administered Worksheets

The therapist-administered tracking worksheets are managed by the therapist. The therapy uses them to for the following purposes:

• record what the therapy attendee tells them during sessions
• record their observations during sessions
• undertake assessments (by analyzing their records)

Self-Practice Worksheets

The self-practice worksheets (also known as CBT Homework Worksheets) are used by the therapy attendee. They are used by the attendee to record their thoughts and behaviors while away from the therapist.

The self-practice worksheets are essential because of the way CBT works. CBT is typically implemented through so-called “behavioral experiments”. These are basically behavioral exercises which patients are required to undertake as part of the treatment program.

The patients are usually required to observe their thoughts and reactions before, during and after the behavioral experiments. The self-practice worksheets enable them to keep a meticulous record of these thoughts and reactions . The records are analyzed by the therapist to track the progress of their treatment .

The self-practice CBT worksheets are sometimes used outside therapy settings. They can be used by individuals who want to implement simple CBT strategies for handling their problems. Although this isn’t widely encouraged, even non-professionals sometimes use CBT approaches for resolving their behavioral problems.

This self-help approach is used for those whose behavioral problems haven’t escalated to the point of requiring the intervention of a licensed therapist . In most cases, this self-help approach to CBT is used as a preventative mechanism to prevent escalations. For those who require this self-help approach, the self-practice CBT worksheets are created.

However, the cases of CBT worksheets getting used outside of therapy settings is rare. In most cases, even the self-practice worksheets are used in therapy sessions under the recommendation of a therapist .

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49 Questions to ask Clients in CBT Therapy Sessions

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on the belief that our thinking impacts our feelings and actions. Because of this, CBT treatment focuses on changing how a person thinks with the goal of impacting how they feel and subsequently, how they behave. These changes can lead to a reduction in challenges and negative symptoms. As one of the most widely used therapeutic approaches, CBT can be applied to a variety of presenting concerns and populations. Keep reading to learn 49 CBT questions you can ask clients in therapy sessions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be used with clients who are living with a variety of mental health concerns including anxiety , depression , PTSD , and Axis I disorders. CBT can also be used in the treatment of children who are living with symptoms associated with ADHD , behavioral disorders, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.

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Getting Ready for Your First CBT Therapy Session with a New Client

While CBT can be used with clients who are living with a range of mental health concerns, you likely work within a particular niche or field of counseling. CBT can be used in inpatient treatment centers, partial hospitalization programs, and outpatient treatment programs. The clinical setting that you work in will have a direct impact on how you prepare for your first session and the CBT questions that you utilize.

Being knowledgeable about the paperwork you are expected to complete during your first session will impact how you prepare for your session as well. Using your knowledge and experience from your clinical work will help develop a routine that works best for you.

If possible, take time to review any documentation that has been provided to you before you begin your session. This can help you develop a game plan for your session and help you better understand where your focus should be during your new session. 

Common Questions to Ask CBT Clients

CBT questions can be used during various stages of treatment and during a variety of therapeutic interventions. This includes rating questions, exploring the validity of their thoughts, labeling cognitive distortion, Socratic questions , and working to change automatic thoughts. 

Rating Questions

Rating Questions can be used to rate the intensity of the emotion that your client is experiencing. Rating questions can be helpful in revising personal beliefs and automatic thoughts to work towards healthy cognitions.

An example of rating questions include:

• On a scale of 1 to 5, with one being a mild impact to 5 as severe, how would you rate your experience?

Determining the Validity of Cognitions

Exploring the validity of a clients cognitions is an example of a phase of counseling where CBT questions can be used. Working with our clients to see where their thoughts are not fully valid, can help them see where changes can be made to make clinical gains.

Examples of CBT questions that could be asked include:

• Ask your client what they would encourage a loved one to do if they were in their shoes
• Encourage your client to take their concern to an extreme, and explore their thoughts afterwards
• Encourage your client to imagine the worst possible result and explore ways in which they could respond to, or cope with the worst-case scenario

Cognitive Distortions and Automatic Thoughts

Cognitive distortions and automatic thoughts that anyone can have. For some, these automatic thoughts can have a significant impact on feelings and behaviors. Before you can work to change your thoughts, it is important to understand which thoughts are troubling your client. CBT questions can be used to guide exploration into the presence of different cognitive distortions and explore their impact. 

• Are you confusing a thought with a fact?
• Are you jumping to conclusions?
• Are you assuming that your view of things is the only possible way?
• What is the effect of thinking the way you do? Advantages? Disadvantages?
• Are you asking questions that have no answers?
• Are you using ultimatum words in your thinking?
• Are you condemning yourself as a total person or just for 1 event that occurred?
• Are you focusing on your weaknesses rather than your strengths?
• Are you blaming yourself for something that is not your fault?
• Are you taking something personally that has little or nothing do with you?
• Are you expecting yourself to be perfect?
• Are you using a double standard?
• Are you paying attention only to the negative things?
• Are you overestimating your chances of disaster?
• Are you exaggerating the importance of an event(s)?
• Are you predicting the future before it happens (instead of waiting to see how it unfolds)?
• Are you assuming nothing can change your situation?
• Are you worrying about the way you think things should be instead of facing things as they are?

Socratic Questions

The questions you ask will be impacted by the specific distortion that you are looking to explore. Using a list of Socratic Questions with CBT can be used to guide an exploration of a thought pattern that your client has been experiencing. Socratic Questions can be defined differently, so using a worksheet like the one provided by TherapyByPro can be helpful. It is important to keep in mind that CBT takes a non-confrontational approach, and counselors work to guide their clients as they develop new perceptions of their challenges and concerns.  

Here are some Socratic question examples you can ask:

Clarification Questions

• What is a thought you’d like to question?
• Why do you say that?
• What do you mean by that?
• What do you think is the main problem?
• Could you discuss this point further?

Assumption Questions

• Are you making any assumptions in your thought?
• Why would you make this assumption?
• What else could you assume instead?
• Can you verify this assumption?
• Can you disprove this assumption?

Probing Questions

• Could you tell me about an example?
• What do you think causes this to happen?
• Could you be reading the evidence incorrectly?
• Are you looking at all the evidence or just evidence that supports your thought?
• Are you basing your thought on facts or your feelings?
• Are you having this thought out of habit or do the facts support it?

Consequences Questions

• What are the short-term consequences of this thought / assumption?
• What are the long-term consequences of this thought / assumption?
• How does this thought / assumption affect you negatively?
• How does this thought / assumption affect you positively?

Perspective Questions

• What is evidence that agrees with this thought?
• What is evidence that goes against this thought?
• How would someone else think in your situation?
• Did someone pass this thought or belief to you?
• What could have been a better question to ask or thought to have?

Questioning the Question Questions

• Why do you think I asked you this question?
• Why is this question important?

Final Thoughts On Asking the Right Questions in CBT Therapy

CBT questions can be a powerful tool when working with our clients. When we keep the goals of CBT in mind, along with the importance of the therapeutic alliance, CBT can be an effective treatment approach for many individuals.

Once a client has reached the end of their therapeutic journey, they should be able to effectively apply the skills and knowledge that they have learned when they find themselves having challenges and difficulties.  

TherapyByPro is an online mental health directory that connects mental health pros with clients in need. If you’re a mental health professional, you can Join our community and add your practice listing here . We have assessments, practice forms, and worksheet templates mental health professionals can use to streamline their practice. View all of our mental health worksheets here .

To learn more about how you can apply Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, we encourage you to look for continuing education courses and other training opportunities. 

Author: Kayla Loibl, MA, LMHC

Kayla is a Mental Health Counselor who earned her degree from Niagara University in Lewiston, New York. She has provided psychotherapy in a residential treatment program and an outpatient addiction treatment facility in New York as well as an inpatient addiction rehab in Ontario, Canada. She has experience working with individuals living with a variety of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder , and trauma .

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Content reviewed: April 11, 2023

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