Unhelpful thinking styles are patterns of thinking that are not based on reality and make things seem worse than they are. Though unavoidable, such thoughts can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and poor decision making.
The Unhelpful Thinking Styles poster outlines 12 common thinking errors that typically distort reality. Some examples of these thinking styles include mental filtering, labeling, and black-and-white thinking and are commonly taught in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Beneath each thinking style is a brief explanation and a sample phrase to help clients spot these patterns.
Learning about these thought patterns encourages kids and teens to make positive changes to their thinking. It can help lead to strategies to challenge negative thoughts to build healthier thinking habits over time.
Caring adults can encourage kids to focus on one positive thought or action each day to gradually shift their mindset. Our Changing Negative Thoughts to Positive Thoughts worksheet can help kids reframe negative thoughts.
Our 19-page CBT Handouts Bundle provides complementary resources for CBT lessons.
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Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of CBT worksheets and handouts.
References:
- Colvin, E., Gardner, B., Labelle, P. R., & Santor, D. (2021). The automaticity of positive and negative thinking: A scoping review of mental habits. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 45(6), 1037-1063. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-021-10218-4
- Unhelpful thinking traps. (2022). The Eating Disorder Recovery Journal, 40-45. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781805016571.0029
- Worden, B., & Kaplan, J. (2024). Common cognitive distortions. The CBT Workbook for Illness Anxiety, 130-147. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032711355-6
