The cognitive triangle explains how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. It shows that changing one element—like a thought—can also change emotions and actions. It’s a concept discussed in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to guide clients toward developing healthier thinking patterns.
The Cognitive Triangle Poster clearly illustrates the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and actions. It uses simple icons to represent each element and arrows to show the connections between them. Its minimalist design blends seamlessly into therapy rooms and counseling offices.
This poster can teach kids and teens to recognize their thoughts and change them, which can lead to better emotional and behavioral outcomes. They can try a simple routine, like writing down one negative thought each day and replacing it with a more helpful, realistic thought.
The Changing Negative Thoughts to Positive Thoughts worksheet can assist kids in reframing negative thoughts. Our 19-page CBT Handouts Bundle includes a cognitive triangle handout that provides more depth on the topic.
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Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of CBT worksheets and handouts.
References:
- Assigana, E., Chang, E., Cho, S., Kotecha, V., Liu, B., Turner, H., Zhang, Y., Christel, M. G., & Stevens, S. M. (2014). TF-CBT triangle of life. Proceedings of the first ACM SIGCHI annual symposium on Computer-human interaction in play, 9-16. https://doi.org/10.1145/2658537.2658684
- Rohsenow, D. J., & Pinkston-Camp, M. M. (2014). Cognitive-behavioral approaches. Oxford Handbooks Online. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199381708.013.010
