What are Cognitive Distortions?
Cognitive Distortions, or Thinking Traps, are types of thoughts that our brains often cling to and make us believe unhelpful things about ourselves, others, or the world as a whole.
Thinking Traps can be explored and worked on through both individual and group therapy by identifying which ones you experience the most, challenging those thoughts and then learning how to catch them in action and change the way you think about different things.
The different Thinking Traps that we see most commonly in teens and young adults at Collaborative Minds Psychotherapy LLC are:
👉 Catastrophizing: Telling yourself that the very worst case scenario is happening or is going to happen, without considering other possibilities that may be more likely and/or less negative.
👉 Fortune Telling: Predicting that something negative will happen in the future, as if you were gazing into a crystal ball.
👉 Mind reading: Believing you know what others are thinking, failing to consider other, more likely possibilities, and making no effort to check it out.
👉 All or nothing thinking: Viewing a situation in one of two possible categories, rather than on a continuum with nuanced/gray areas. Includes “perfectionist thinking” – the thought that if something is not perfect, it is worthless.
👉 Feelings as facts: Thinking something must be true because you “feel” (actually believe) it so
strongly, ignoring or discounting evidence to the contrary.
👉 Disqualifying the positive: Unreasonably telling yourself that positive experiences, deeds, or qualities do not count or count less than negative ones.
👉 Overgeneralizing: Making a sweeping negative conclusion that goes far beyond the current situation.
👉 Should statements: Having a precise, fixed idea of how you or others should behave, and overestimating how bad it is when these expectations are not met.
The best way to work through these Cognitive Distortions is usually through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which can be done through both individual or group therapy. Contact us to inquire about if CBT may be right for you!
