Worksheet
Cognitive Restructuring: Decatastrophizing
This Decatastrophizing Worksheet is a practical cognitive restructuring technique rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Use it to help clients identify catastrophic thoughts, assess the factual basis of their fears, and explore alternative explanations.
How to Use This Worksheet
This worksheet is a structured CBT technique that helps clients break down their catastrophic thoughts and evaluate them more realistically. By guiding clients through a series of questions, it promotes critical thinking skills, encourages alternative explanations, and supports more balanced emotional responses in anxiety-provoking situations.
Who It's For
This worksheet is ideal for clients experiencing catastrophic thinking, social anxiety, or generalized anxiety disorder. It’s particularly helpful for clients who tend to imagine the worst-case scenario and need structured coping strategies to build self-efficacy and reduce emotional overwhelm.
Expected Outcomes
- Better ability to identify catastrophic thoughts
- Increased awareness of the likelihood vs. severity of feared outcomes
- Strengthened coping skills and improved emotional regulation
- More realistic thinking that supports long-term well-being
Related Topics
References
Pike, A. C., Serfaty, J. R., & Robinson, O. J. (2021). The development and psychometric properties of a self-report Catastrophizing Questionnaire. Royal Society Open Science, 8(1), 201362. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.201362
Frequently Asked Questions About Cognitive Restructuring: Decatastrophizing Resources
If you are in a crisis or any other person may be in danger - don’t use this site. Use these resources