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CBT Worksheets

A free, clinician-reviewed library of cognitive behavioral therapy worksheets you can fill in here and download as a PDF.

MC Reviewed by Michael Callans, MSW·Free · Tool collection··
We never store your data Free PDF download Clinician-reviewed

About this tool

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most studied and effective approaches in mental health, with strong evidence for anxiety, depression, OCD, and many other concerns. Its central insight is that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are linked, so changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns can change how you feel.

These worksheets are the practical tools therapists use to teach that skill. They help you catch automatic thoughts, test them against the evidence, identify the deeper beliefs that drive them, and plan small experiments that update those beliefs in the real world. Used regularly, they help you become your own therapist between sessions.

All of our worksheets are free, run entirely in your browser, and produce a clean branded PDF. Nothing you write is stored or sent anywhere.

References

  1. Beck JS. Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Basics and Beyond. 2nd ed. Guilford Press; 2011.
  2. Hofmann SG, et al. The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: a review of meta-analyses. Cognit Ther Res. 2012.

CBT Worksheets FAQ

What are CBT worksheets?

Structured exercises that teach core cognitive behavioral therapy skills: noticing automatic thoughts, testing them, and changing unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior.

Which CBT worksheet should I start with?

Start with the cognitive triangle to learn the model, then use a thought record whenever something upsetting happens.

Are these a substitute for therapy?

They are helpful self-help tools and a great complement to therapy, but not a replacement, especially for persistent or severe difficulties.

Can I download CBT worksheets as free PDFs?

Yes. Every worksheet in this library is free, with no signup, email, or payment. Each one fills in directly in your browser and downloads as a clean PDF, so you can complete a thought record on screen or print blank copies to write by hand. Nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere.

Do CBT worksheets actually work?

They can, when used consistently. CBT itself is one of the best-supported approaches for anxiety and depression, and worksheets are the standard way its skills get practiced between sessions. Research on guided self-help shows that written CBT exercises reduce symptoms, with stronger results when a therapist reviews them. On their own they are a useful self-help tool, not a replacement for working with a professional.

Important: These worksheets are educational self-help tools, not therapy or a diagnosis. For persistent or severe difficulties, please work with a licensed mental-health professional. In an emergency, call your local emergency number or, in the US, call or text 988.