Negative thoughts are a normal part of life, but when they go unnoticed, they can start to influence a person’s mindset. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) offers a way to break this cycle through the “catch it, check it, and change it” technique — a simple way to recognize, question, and reframe negative thoughts.
The Catch It, Check It, Change It poster introduces this process in an engaging way. First, it teaches them to "catch" unhelpful thoughts by noticing them. Next, they "check" whether those thoughts are accurate or helpful. Finally, they "change" them by reframing them into more realistic perspectives.
Having this poster in view serves as a helpful reminder for kids and teens to pause and reassess their thoughts. Once they learn the process, they can apply it in different situations — such as making decisions and handling social situations.
Caring adults supporting this process can introduce complementary activities like mindfulness, journaling, or keeping a positivity jar where they can write down positive thoughts to revisit when needed.
Our 19-page CBT Handouts Bundle provides additional CBT resources to complement this poster.
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Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of CBT worksheets and handouts.
References:
- Stallard, P., Myles, P., & Branson, A. (2014). Cognitive behaviour therapy scale for children and young people. PsycTESTS Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1037/t64492-000
- Taylor, L., & Tranah, T. (2019). CBT with young people. The Therapeutic Relationship in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, 191-203. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781526461568.n14
- Weeks, C., Hill, V., & Owen, C. (2016). Changing thoughts, changing practice: Examining the delivery of a group CBT-based intervention in a school setting. Educational Psychology in Practice, 33(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/02667363.2016.1217400
