Free downloadable cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) worksheets, formulations, and self-help resources
The following worksheets are freely available to use as you wish. PsychologyTools worksheets are distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license. This means you are free to download, use, copy, and distribute them. All I ask is that you (a) try to let people know where you got them from, and (b) don't sell them.
Blank formulations
Belief-Driven CBT Formulation
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Core-belief driven cross-sectional cognitive behavioural formulation. Illustrates the role of beliefs in the interpretation of a situation
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Compassionate Mind Formulation
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Formulation to encourage thinking from a compassionate perspective. Includes worked example
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Cross Sectional CBT Formulation
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Cross-sectional 'Hot Cross Bun' cognitive behavioural formulation
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Friendly Formulation
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Simple 5 p's case formulation presented as a question: "How did 'the problem' develop?"
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Jacqueline Persons-Style Case Formulation
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Case formulation diagram adapted from Jacqueline Persons' approach
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Judith Beck-Style Case Formulation
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Case formulation diagram adapted from Judith Beck's approach
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Longitudinal Formulation
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Longitudinal CBT case formulation (5 p's) with cross-sectional component (thoughts, feelings, behaviours, physical sensations)
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Longitudinal Formulation
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Longitudinal CBT case formulation with cross-sectional component (thoughts, feelings, body sensations, responses)
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Schema Activation Formulation
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Schema-driven formulation with additional worksheet explaining the formation and role of schemas
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Vicious Flower Formulation
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Deceptively simple formulation encouraging a focus on maintenance cycles
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Thought records

CBT Thought Record
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Record the situation, emotion and thought, then examine the evidence for and against the thought
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CBT Thought Record (Portrait)
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Record the situation, emotion and thought, then examine the evidence for and against the thought
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Simple Thought Record
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Simple illustrated three-column thought record
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Dysfunctional Thought Record
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An REBT tool. Similar to a CBT thought record, but specifies the cognitive distortion instead of judging evidence for and against the thought
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Health Anxiety Thought Record
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Thought record specific to health anxiety concerns
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Worry Thought Record
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Record worries, predictions associated with worries, and evidence for and against the prediction
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Cognitive restructuring

ABC Belief Monitoring
(Digital interactive PDF version)
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An ABC worksheet encouraging you to rate the strength of the belief
Submitted by Paul McQueen
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Behavioural Experiment Planning Worksheet
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Form for planning and evaluating CBT behavioural experiments
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Hindsight Bias
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Description of hindsight bias, a memory bias which can be problematic after trauma. Includes patient handouts and key therapist questions
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Hotspot Record
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Useful during enhanced reliving / cognitive restructuring for trauma. Adapted from Grey, Young & Holmes (2002)
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Pie Chart
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Includes descriptions of how pie charts can be used to modify beliefs around inflated responsibility, and for maladaptive beliefs in health anxiety
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Positive Belief Record
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A worksheet for recording evidence that supports a positive belief about the self. Useful for core belief / schema change
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Theory A / Theory B Hypothesis A / Hypothesis B Dual Model Strategy
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A method for reframing a problem as a result of belief or worry, rather than as a result of a situation/fact. Includes 2 different versions of the worksheet, and two worked examples illustrating how to use it
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Unhelpful Thinking Styles
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Worksheet detailing 10 common unhelpful thinking styles / cognitive distortions
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Diaries / Data gathering

Daily Activity Diary
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Basic activity diary
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Activity Diary with Enjoyment and Mastery Ratings
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Activity diary useful for behavioural activation with depressed patients. Space for rating enjoyment and mastery of each activity
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Activity Diary - No Time Slots
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Activity diary with blank columns for days
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Pain Diary
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Record pain ratings. Use the diary to look for any patterns in how the pain changes over the course of the day, and week
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Panic Diary
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Record panic attack frequency along with body sensations and negative thoughts
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Sleep Diary
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Sleep diary with sections to be completed morning and evening
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Information sheets

Guidelines for Better Sleep
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Originally designed for clients with PTSD, but applicable to anyone who needs information on sleep hygeine
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Hindsight Bias
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Description of hindsight bias, a memory bias which can be problematic after trauma. Includes patient handouts and key therapist questions
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Intrusive Thoughts Brain Metaphor
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A short story / metaphor explaining the persistence of intrusive thoughts
Submitted by Kieran Fleck
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PTSD Film Projection Metaphor
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A metaphor to help understand origin and treatment of flashbacks in PTSD
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PTSD Linen Cupboard Metaphor
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Illustrated linen cupboard metaphor to explain PTSD treatment rationale to patients
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PTSD and Memory
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Explanation of two important brain regions in PTSD: the amygdala and hippocampus
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Safety Behaviours
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Short explanation about safety behaviours
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Stages of Change
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An aid for motivational interviewing based upon the Prochaska & DiClemente model
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TEAR Model Of Grief
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Four tasks of mourning suggested by Worden (1991)
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Thoughts and Depression
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Simple explanation of cognitive bias in depression
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Thought Suppression
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Information about thought suppression and the rebound effect
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Threat System / Fight or Flight
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Graphical explanation of how the fight or flight system readies the body for action
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Unhelpful Thinking Styles
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Worksheet detailing 10 common unhelpful thinking styles / cognitive distortions
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Values Worksheet
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A worksheet to explore the concept of values from within an ACT framework
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Techniques / procedures

Narrative Exposure Therapy
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Notes and guidelines for conducting Narrative Exposure Therapy
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Pacing
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Pacing information and instructions to manage chronic pain
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Rewind Technique
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Therapist instructions for an imaginal exposure technique that can be used in the treatment of trauma
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Useful tools

Behavioural Experiment Planning Worksheet
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Form for planning and evaluating CBT behavioural experiments
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Checklist for better sleep
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Tick-box approach for clients to assess how well they are setting the conditions for sleep
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Motivation and Ambivalence
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Examine the advantages and disadvantages of changing and not-changing
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Problem Grid
(Digital interactive PDF version)
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A worksheet to look at a problem systematically from different perspectives
Submitted by Paul McQueen
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Problem Solving
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A structured problem solving worksheet which encourages solution-focused thinking
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Stop Think Breathe
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Useful in anger management with both adults and children
Submitted by Adele van der Merwe
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Things To Do List
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Useful in teaching prioritising and time management skills
Submitted by Adele van der Merwe
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Thermometer VAS Scale
(Digital interactive PDF version)
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A thermometer VAS scale to quantify and rate intensity. Useful for exposure work
Submitted by Paul McQueen
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Forgiveness tools

Unforgiveness hook metaphor
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A great metaphor suggested by Stephen Hayes about the dilemma of forgiveness
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Forgiveness Is
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Definition of forgiveness
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Forgiveness Quotes
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Helpful quotations for teaching about forgiveness
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Forgiveness Methods
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Ways of forgiving, including discussion of misconceptions which can present blocks to forgiveness
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Formulations for specific disorders
Psychology resources made by other people
The Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) is an Australian mental health organisation that conducts research, provides training and supervision, and offers a clinical service. They also make amazing resources that are helpful for therapists and their clients. They have nothing to do with PsychologyTools.org, but I'm a big fan of their materials and sometimes find it hard to get to the ones I want in a hurry. I'm providing links direct to some of their materials here: