In cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), there are few tools as simple but powerful as a thought record. Thought records helps clients identify and record their thoughts, which will be an important skill for the rest of treatment.
Our Thought Record PDF is an easy-to-use template for tracking triggering situations, thoughts, responses, and outcomes. This log helps clients notice their thinking patterns and understand how their emotional and behavioral responses affect outcomes.
We recommend introducing the thought record during session and practicing with examples from your client’s past. After they have a good handle on how the tool works, ask them to complete a blank thought record between sessions with new situations. Finally, review the completed thought record with your client during the next session.
It may be helpful to send clients home with a diagram of the CBT model to refresh their memory of the activity (see our simple cognitive model or advanced cognitive model printouts).
