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Mindful Emotion Awareness

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

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Example by Peggy Levinson © 2022 Claytontherapy. All Rights Reserved.

Cognitive Distortions

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© 2012 Therapist Aid LLC
Provided by TherapistAid.com

  • Magnification and Minimization

    Exaggerating or minimizing the importance of events. One might believe their own achievements are unimportant, or that their mistakes are excessively important.

  • Catastrophizing

    Seeing only the worst possible outcomes of a situation

  • Overgeneralization

    Making broad interpretations from a single or few events. "I felt awkward during my job interview. I am always so awkward."

  • Magical Thinking

    The belief that acts will influence unrelated situations. "I am a good person-bad things shouldn't happen to me."

  • Personalization

    The belief that one is responsible for events outside of their own control. "My mom is always upset. She would be fine if I did more to help her."

  • Jumping to Conclusions

    Interpreting the meaning of a situation with little or now evidence.

  • Mind Reading

    Interpreting the thoughts and beliefs of others without adequate evidence. "She would not go on a date with me. She probably thinks I'm ugly."

  • Fortune Telling

    The expectation that a situation will turn out badly without adequate evidence.

  • Emotional Reasoning

    The assumption that emotions relect the way things really are. "I feel like a bad friend, therefore I must be a bad friend."

  • Disqulifying the Positive

    Recognizing only the negative aspects of a situation while ignoring the positive. One might receive many compliments on an evaluation, but focus on the single piece of negative feedback.

  • "Should" Statements

    The belif that things should be a certain way. "I should always be friendly."

  • All-or-Nothing Thinking

    Thinking in absolutes such as "always", "never", or "every". "I never do a good enough job on anything."

Emotions & Feeling Wheel

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