A Therapist’s Cheat Sheet to Writing Therapy Notes: Examples, Templates, and Best Practices

At times, “the power of positive thinking” sounds like it’s just a pseudo-inspirational cliché. In this case, though, having healthy beliefs about oneself can lead to more positive automatic thoughts, which can indeed be beneficial. It is a powerful intervention for clients who are ready to not only uproot their negative thinking patterns but begin focusing on strengths, values, and opportunities. For practical ways to challenge and dispute negative automatic thinking, one can try using one of these CBT worksheets. This indicates that along with positive thinking, mindfulness is another way to counteract negative automatic thinking.

Personal and Emotional Boundaries

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a proven, effective approach for overcoming a wide range of mental health challenges, from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy anxiety and depression to specific fears like driving or using elevators. With the right guidance and support, CBT can help you understand your thoughts, change your behaviors, and start feeling better. CBT is semi-brief structured psychotherapy that focuses on changing maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that lead to negative outcomes. The core assumption behind CBT is that individuals have developed unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns that cause them a variety of problems.

Group Boundary Setting Exercise

For example, your therapist may add interpersonal therapy that focuses on your relationships with other people. It might take a few sessions for your therapist to fully understand your situation and concerns and to decide on the best course of action. If you don’t feel comfortable with the first therapist you see, try someone else. Having a good “fit” with your therapist can help you get the most benefit from CBT.

Life event visualization

A 2019 review suggested that people with traumatic brain injuries may use CBT to manage anger, depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. However, more research is needed to understand if CBT would suit people with brain injuries or other issues that affect thinking. Role-play offers a valuable approach that can be integrated into most therapeutic treatments to stimulate changes in thinking and behavior and learn to manage emotional responses.

• These distorted thoughts often arise automatically, especially during periods of stress, anxiety, or depression, and may reflect deeper beliefs about the self, others, or the world.
• Using a thought record or CBT worksheet can help you track recurring patterns and become more aware of your internal dialogue.
• There are plenty of behaviors that are beneficial that we avoid for various reasons.
• Skills training is a cognitive behavioral therapy technique implemented to remedy such skills deficits.

Healthy Boundaries Worksheets (PDFs)

When used properly, exposure has been proven to be effective in the reduction of fears and phobias. Exposure techniques are best utilized as part of a therapeutic intervention with a therapist who is well trained in their use. Your therapist will guide you through this process, ensuring it’s done gradually and safely.

Download 3 Free Emotional Intelligence Tools Pack (PDF)

• Part two is a guide on how to set boundaries in all kinds of relationships, including family, romantic relationships, friendships, at work, and with social media and technology use.
• They set a formal structure, purpose and standards for the therapy and the therapeutic relationship” (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, 2020, para. 3).
• To get a free copy of the 90 page Think CBT Workbook and Skills Primer, click on the download button and save the PDF document to your personal drive or device.
• Beck (1967) identifies several illogical thinking processes (i.e., distortions of thought processes).

This cognitive restructuring technique is powerful because it encourages the review of a thought from multiple perspectives in a fair and rational manner. As the therapist, you can aid the process by challenging evidence that you believe breaks the rules, and presenting evidence that your client has missed. While you and the therapist should set specific goals, CBT’s general aim is to reframe negative thoughts into positive feelings and behaviors. CBT aims to help you identify and explore the ways your emotions and thoughts can affect your actions. Once you notice these patterns, you can begin learning how to change your behaviors and develop new coping strategies. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a treatment approach that helps you recognize negative or unhelpful thought and behavior patterns.