Emotional reasoning is a cognitive distortion, or faulty pattern of thought, in which a person believes that his or her own emotional experience in relation to a thought is evidence of the truthfulness of that thought. In a nutshell, emotional reasoning occurs when we think the following: I feel it’s true, so it must be true. Like…
Cognitive distortions are errors of thought and/or belief that create false perceptions of reality and by doing so create emotional distress. Cognitive distortions can be contributing factors to anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. Identifying and reducing cognitive distortions is a core component of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which is one of the most well-regarded…
The foundational principle that underlies cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is that thoughts, behaviors, and emotions are interconnected. This relationship can be visualized with the CBT triangle (or cognitive triangle). Thoughts, behaviors, and emotions can be understood as three points on a triangle, and each one influences the other in a bilateral fashion. This means that: Cognitive…
Worst case scenario thinking, also known as catastrophizing, is a cognitive distortion or faulty thought pattern, in which a person greatly exaggerates the likelihood that something unusually bad will occur. Worst case scenario thinking is one of the more common cognitive distortions, particularly for those with anxiety or depressive disorders. In this article we will…
Should statements are cognitive distortions, or faulty thought patterns, in which a person knowingly or unknowingly creates rigid expectations that in turn lead to unnecessary distress. Should statements are one of the “sneakier” cognitive distortions in that they become so ingrained in our thought habits that we don’t even realize we are making these errors,…
Gratitude is the feeling appreciation for someone or something. When we feel gratitude, we recognizing the good in the world that exists outside of ourselves. This article contains four gratitude exercises that are designed to cultivate gratitude in our daily lives. When we express gratitude, we may think the recipient our gratitude to be the…
The SOAP note is one of the most popular forms of the medical progress note, which makes up the backbone of any client file. A SOAP note template is an excellent way to organize SOAP notes for ease and efficiency. SOAP note templates can be used digitally or as a printable. Download our SOAP note…
Pity is the feeling of sorrow for another person’s suffering or hardship. The word has its origin the ancient Greek word piety, which can be understood to mean a devotion to goodness. Pity was central to ancient Greek thought: it can be seen as the true theme of Homer’s The Iliad, which is often considered…
Therapeutic interventions are any deliberate action or decision that a psychotherapist or mental health counselor takes with their client during a regular therapy session. For instance, a therapy interventions list can include using role-play, processing a difficult conversation, providing psychoeducation about a diagnosis or symptoms, and engaging in supportive listening, among many other examples. A…
A treatment plan is the written documentation of the goals and objectives of mental health treatment as mutually agreed upon by the client and therapist. Treatment plans are an integral part of the treatment process as they document important assessment information, diagnostic information, and the scope of treatment. Most therapists and health professionals use a…
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