Decatastrophizing
Download or send
Choose your language
Professional version
Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Client version
Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Fillable version (PDF)
A fillable version of the resource. This can be edited and saved in Adobe Acrobat, or other PDF editing software.
Editable version (PPT)
An editable Microsoft PowerPoint version of the resource.
Translation Template
Are you a qualified therapist who would like to help with our translation project?
Tags
Languages this resource is available in
Problems this resource might be used to address
Techniques associated with this resource
Mechanisms associated with this resource
Introduction & Theoretical Background
The Decatastrophizing worksheet is taken from the book Psychology Tools For Overcoming Panic. Decatastrophizing is a cognitive restructuring technique to reduce or challenge catastrophic thinking. The term 'decatastrophizing' was coined by Albert Ellis who developed REBT, but as a technique it is equally at home within a CBT model.
Therapist Guidance
Catastrophizing involves a number of cognitive distortions:
- Overestimation of the likelihood of an event
- Overestimation of the 'awfulness' of an event
- Underestimation of our ability to cope with the event should it happen
Decatastrophizing means addressing these distortions. Questions to ask might include: "Realistically, what is the worst that could happen?" and "How would I cope if the worst did happen?". This worksheet can be used to guide a client through this decatastrophizing process. In time clients can be guided to lead themselves through this process in anxiety-provoking situations.
References And Further Reading
- Ellis, A. (1962). Reason and Emotion In Psychotherapy. New York: Lyle Stuart
- Whalley, M. G. (2017). Psychology Tools For Overcoming Panic. Psychology Tools