Incorporating Imagery Into Thought Records: Increasing Engagement in Balanced Thoughts

• I examine how imagery can be incorporated into thought records
• I explore how to identify an image's encapsulated meaning
• I describe how to create images of evidence against negative automatic thoughts
• I describe how to use imagery to consolidate a balanced thought

Thought records are one of the most effective CBT interventions. However, clients can find them overly intellectual. While clients may logically understand that their balanced thought is accurate, they may not be emotionally convinced, thus reducing the thought record’s effectiveness. In the present paper we describe how imagery can be used throughout the thought record process to enhance clients’ emotional engagement. We describe how imagery can be used to identify negative automatic thoughts, to increase the believability of evidence against negative automatic thoughts, and to increase emotional engagement with balanced thoughts.