The five worksheets that run a CBT session
| Worksheet | Pull it when… | Skill it teaches |
|---|---|---|
| Thought record (7-column) | Client brings a specific painful moment. | Cognitive restructuring. |
| Behavioural activation grid | Depression, avoidance, energy collapse. | Mastery + pleasure scheduling. |
| Cost-benefit analysis | Client is stuck between two options or a target belief. | Evaluating a belief or behaviour on its actual utility. |
| Downward arrow | A surface thought that doesn't feel like the real one. | Surfacing the core belief. |
| ABC model | Client can't separate trigger from feeling. | The A-B-C cognitive chain. |
Add the cognitive-distortions reference to every intake pack
The distortions list is a screening tool, not an intervention. Handed out in session two, it becomes the vocabulary the rest of the work runs on. Pair it with the first thought record in session three.
Behavioural experiments and core beliefs
Once the client is fluent with the thought record, the work moves from surface thoughts to core beliefs. The behavioural experiment worksheet operationalises the belief as a testable prediction. The core-beliefs sheet maps the belief to its evidence-for/against and the alternative belief. Together these two carry the client through the middle third of most CBT protocols.
Related tools
Worksheets
- 7-Column Thought Record →
The workhorse of every CBT session.
- Behavioural Activation Grid →
Mastery + pleasure scheduling for depression.
- Cost–Benefit Analysis →
Weigh the belief or behaviour on its actual utility.
- Downward Arrow →
Surface the core belief under a surface thought.
- ABC Model →
Trigger → belief → consequence.
- Cognitive Distortions Reference →
The 15-distortion screening handout.
- Behavioural Experiment →
Turn a belief into a testable prediction.
- Core Beliefs Worksheet →
Evidence for/against + alternative belief.
- Fact vs Interpretation →
Separate observation from meaning-making.
- Socratic Questions →
The 20-question reference for guided discovery.
Frequently asked questions
What CBT worksheets do therapists use most?+
The thought record is used in nearly every CBT session. After that: behavioural activation for depression, cost-benefit for ambivalent decisions, downward arrow to surface core beliefs, and the cognitive-distortions reference as a screening handout.
How many CBT sessions before a client is fluent with a thought record?+
Most clients need three guided in-session thought records before they can run one solo. Do the first one on a whiteboard, the second on the sheet with heavy prompting, the third with the client leading.
Do these CBT worksheets work over telehealth?+
Yes. Every worksheet is available as a printable PDF, a fillable client link and an in-session tool. On telehealth, share your screen and fill the sheet together, then send the completed version to the client afterward.