Find the negative cognition, pair it with a positive one, rate it
Loading Core Beliefs Wheel…
How to use the Core Beliefs Wheel
Step 1
Start at the centre
Is the charge about who they are, something they did, feeling unsafe, or having no control?
Step 2
Narrow to the words
“When you bring up that picture, what words go best with it that express your negative belief about yourself now?”
Step 3
Pair it and rate it
Find the belief they would rather hold, rate how true it feels from 1 to 7, and save it to the client's target plan.
The groups and belief pairs are adapted from the standard EMDR lists of negative and positive cognitions (Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press).
Frequently asked questions
- What is a negative cognition in EMDR?
- In EMDR therapy, the negative cognition (NC) is the belief a client holds about themselves now when they bring up a disturbing memory, such as “I am not good enough” or “I am not safe”. It is an “I” statement in the present tense, and it is a belief rather than a description of what happened. It is paired with a positive cognition (PC), the belief the client would rather hold, and the PC is rated on the Validity of Cognition (VoC) scale from 1 (completely false) to 7 (completely true).
- How do I help a client find their negative belief?
- Start broad: is the charge about who they are, something they did, feeling unsafe, or having no control? That points to one of the four groups on the wheel. Then narrow through the themes and ask what words go best with the picture that express their negative belief about themselves now. Read a few nearby beliefs aloud, notice which one lands with feeling, check it against “Does it fit?”, and write it in the client's own words.
- Can clients use the wheel between sessions?
- Yes. You can send the wheel to a client's portal, where they can explore the beliefs, add their own wording and rate the positive belief. Anything they fill in reaches you only if they choose to share it, and they can keep it private instead. Use it for reflection between sessions; memory processing belongs in session with you. Sending to a client portal needs a trial or subscription.
- Is this list complete?
- No, it's a starting point. Always use the client's own words when they fit better.
Related
- Parts Mapper — map the parts that carry a belief around the Self.
- Quick thought record — catch the thought, check the evidence, find a balanced one.
- Values card sort — sort what matters most to the client.