Cognitive Restructuring

Cognitive restructuring (CR) is a psychotherapeutic process of learning to identify and dispute irrational or maladaptive thoughts known as cognitive distortions, such as all-or-nothing thinking (splitting), magical thinking, over-generalization, magnification, and emotional reasoning, which are commonly associated with many mental health disorders.

CR employs many strategies, such as Socratic questioning, thought recording, and guided imagery, and is used in many types of therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). A number of studies demonstrate considerable efficacy in using CR-based therapies.

Cognitive restructuring involves four steps:

1. Identification of problematic cognitions known as "automatic thoughts" (ATs) which are dysfunctional or negative views of the self, world, or future based upon already existing beliefs about oneself, the world, or the future

2. Identification of the cognitive distortions in the ATs

3. Rational disputation of ATs with the Socratic method

4. Development of a rational rebuttal to the ATs

There are six types of automatic thoughts:

1. Self-evaluated thoughts

2. Thoughts about the evaluations of others

3. Evaluative thoughts about the other person with whom they are interacting

4. Thoughts about coping strategies and behavioral plans

5. Thoughts of avoidance

6. Any other thoughts that were not categorized