Cognitive biases
De-Catastrophizing Worksheet: "Playing the Tape Forward"
The client's mind automatically jumps to the worst-case scenario and gets stuck there without.
When a client’s thinking fixates on a single, disastrous outcome, logical reassurance often falls flat. They treat the worst-case scenario not as one possibility among many, but as a preview of an unavoidable future. This cognitive short-circuit can paralyze their ability to see choices or take productive action, keeping them stuck in a cycle of anxiety and avoidance.
This directive interrupts that pattern without directly challenging the client’s fear. It guides them to move methodically through their imagined endpoint, building a more complete and realistic picture of what could follow. The client returns to your session with a more flexible, nuanced perspective, viewing the feared outcome as a manageable event rather than a definitive catastrophe.
De-Catastrophizing Worksheet: "Playing the Tape Forward"
Identify a specific worry that is causing you to anticipate a catastrophic outcome. Write it down in the first column. Then, in the following columns, write out the different potential futures. Complete one full row for each distinct worry.
| The Worry | The Worst-Case Scenario | The Most Likely Scenario | How I Would Cope with the Worst Case |
|---|---|---|---|
Generated with Rapport7 — rapport7.com