Main Components

• Main Components

  1. Dysfunctional Thought Diary
  2. Cognitive Restructuring
  3. Pleasant Activity Scheduling
• Dysfunctional Thought Diary

  • As homework, clients are asked to keep a diary of thoughts + feelings associated with any negative events
• Cognitive Restructuring

  • The client is taught how to challenge dysfunctional automatic thoughts outside of therapy by asking themselves two questions:

  1. 'Where is the evidence for X?'
  2. 'What is the worst that can happen if X was true?'

  • By answering these questions, negative thoughts can be replaced by more positive constructive ones
• Pleasant Activity Scheduling

  • Involves asking the client to plan for each day one pleasant activity they will engage in
  • It is thought that engaging in these pleasant activities will induce more positive emotions
  • Focusing on new things will detract from negative thinking patterns