Psychoeducation and Information-Giving
Therapeutic techniques such as Socratic questioning aim to help patients to become cognizant of, and to synthesize, information that they already have. However, many patients experience psychological distress because they lack critical information: the essential component of many cognitive models concerns patient’s misappraisals or misperceptions of a stimulus. In cases where patients are lacking critical information then psychoeducation (giving information) is a hugely important psychological intervention.
Psychoeducation can include:
- information given verbally in a therapy session;
- written material in the form of Psychology Tools information handouts, guides, and chapters;
- exercises or homework tasks where patients are encouraged to discover information for themselves.

100 of 223 resources
Entitlement
Schema therapy posits that psychological difficulties stem from early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and clients’ characteristic responses to them, refer ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/entitlement
Prompts For Challenging Negative Thinking (Archived)
NOTE: An improved version of this resource is available here: Prompts For Challenging Negative Thinking. Older versions of a resource may be arch ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/prompts-for-challenging-negative-thinking-archived
What Keeps Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Going?
The "What Keeps It Going?" series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concise, t ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd-going
Managing Social Anxiety (Third Edition): Therapist Guide
Managing Social Anxiety – A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach comes in two volumes. This page is for the Therapist Guide. Click on the following ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/managing-social-anxiety-therapist-guide
Demanding Standards – Living Well With Your Personal Rules
Demanding Standards – Living Well With Your Personal Rules is a guide written for clients who have high or perfectionistic standards which cause th ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/demanding-standards-living-well-with-your-personal-rules
Recognizing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by the presence of persistent and repeated obsessions and compulsions. The obsessions are intrusi ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd
Selective Attention
Selective attention can be conceptualized as a maintaining process (mechanism) within CBT. Biases in perception can lead to biases in information proc ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/selective-attention
Understanding Panic
Our ‘Understanding…’ series is a collection of psychoeducation guides for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, they are co ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/understanding-panic
Thoughts Or Feelings
Differentiating between thoughts and feelings (emotions and body sensations) is an essential skill in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Thoughts Or ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/thoughts-or-feelings
Discounting In Perfectionism – The Ratchet Effect
When individuals with perfectionism successfully meet their demanding standards, these accomplishments are often discounted as “easy to do,” “no ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/discounting-in-perfectionism-the-ratchet-effect
Performance And The Yerkes-Dodson Law
The Yerkes-Dodson Law suggests that performance increases with mental arousal (stress) but only up to a point: when an individuals’ level of stress ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/performance-and-the-yerkes-dodson-law
Sleep Restriction
Sleep restriction is behavioral intervention used in the treatment of insomnia. It is an evidence based treatment for insomnia, both as a standalone t ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/sleep-restriction
Schema Metaphors
Core beliefs (schemas) are self-sustaining. They act to 'attract' confirmatory evidence and 'repel' or 'distort' disconfirmatory evidence. This inform ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/schema-metaphors
Schema Bias
Core beliefs (schemas) are self-sustaining. They act to 'attract' confirmatory evidence and 'repel' or 'distort' disconfirmatory evidence. This inform ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/schema-bias
A Guide To Emotions (Psychology Tools For Living Well)
Cognitive behavioral therapy can help your clients to live happier and more fulfilling lives. Psychology Tools for Living Well is a self-help course ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/a-guide-to-emotions-psychology-tools-for-living-well
How Your Body Responds To Stress
Many clients identify with the concept of ‘stress’ more readily than ‘threat’ and the The How Your Body Responds To Stress information handou ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/how-your-body-responds-to-stress
What Keeps Perfectionism Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-perfectionism-going
What Is Exposure Therapy?
Exposure is an effective evidence-based treatment for fear. This information handout describes the key principles of Exposure Therapy. Clients who are ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-exposure-therapy
Understanding Death Anxiety
Our ‘Understanding…’ series is a collection of psychoeducation guides for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, they are co ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/understanding-death-anxiety
PTSD Film Projection Metaphor
Treatment for trauma often involves exposure to traumatic thoughts and memories, and many clients are understandably reluctant to attempt this. The PT ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/ptsd-film-projection-metaphor
Unforgiveness – The Hook
Everyone experiences hurts and transgressions. When an offence occurs, people often react with anger, fear, or sadness. When these responses persist, ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/unforgiveness-the-hook
What Is Imagery Rescripting?
Unwanted images are a feature common to a variety of problems including PTSD and depression. Imagery rescripting is an evidence-based treatment techni ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-imagery-rescripting
Disqualifying The Positive
This Disqualifying the Positive information handout forms part of the cognitive distortions series, designed to help clients and therapists work more ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/disqualifying-the-positive
Understanding Perfectionism
Our ‘Understanding…’ series is a collection of psychoeducation guides for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, they are co ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/understanding-perfectionism
Understanding Burnout
Our ‘Understanding…’ series is a collection of psychoeducation guides for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, they are co ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/understanding-burnout
Recognizing Prolonged Grief Disorder
Prolonged Grief Disorder is a disturbance in which there is a persistent and pervasive grief response following the death of loved one. It is characte ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-prolonged-grief-disorder
What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
Our ‘What Is … ?’ series is a collection of one-page information handouts for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, handout ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
Maximizing The Effectiveness Of Exposure Therapy
Despite its position as the leading treatment technique for anxiety disorders, not all clients respond to exposure therapy and some individuals relaps ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/maximizing-the-effectiveness-of-exposure-therapy
Facing Your Fears And Phobias
The Facing Your Fears And Phobias guide is written for clients who struggle with fears or phobias. It provides comprehensive information about what fe ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/facing-your-fears-and-phobias
Overcoming Your Eating Disorder: Workbook
Overcoming Eating Disorders comes in two volumes. This page is for the Client Workbook. Click on the following link to access the accompanying Therapi ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/overcoming-your-eating-disorder-workbook
Hindsight Bias
Hindsight bias describes the tendency that people have – once an outcome is known – to believe that they predicted (or could have predicted) an ou ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/hindsight-bias
What Forgiveness Is Not
Forgiveness is an effective way of treating anger and relieving hurt. Unfortunately, it is often misunderstood, and often dismissed as a result. For i ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-forgiveness-is-not
What Is TF-CBT?
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This information handou ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-tf-cbt
What Keeps Fears And Phobias Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-fears-and-phobias-going
Your Stone Age Brain (CYP)
Your Stone Age Brain is an information handout designed to stimulate discussion with anxious children & adolescents. It describes the freeze-fligh ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/your-stone-age-brain-cyp
What Is Burnout?
Our ‘What Is … ?’ series is a collection of one-page information handouts for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, handout ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-burnout
Permissive Thinking
The Permissive Thinking information handout forms part of the cognitive distortions series, designed to help clients and therapists to work more effec ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/permissive-thinking
Understanding Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Our ‘Understanding…’ series is a collection of psychoeducation guides for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, they are co ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/understanding-body-dysmorphic-disorder
What Are Safety Behaviors?
Safety-seeking behaviors (‘safety behaviors’) are actions that people take in response to a real – or perceived – threat. When a threat is rea ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-are-safety-behaviors
Coercive Methods For Enforcing Compliance
Individuals who have experienced abuse often focus on their own actions (or inactions) and blame themselves for their own abuse. This client informati ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/coercive-methods-for-enforcing-compliance
What Do People Think About Themselves (CYP)?
People are not born with low self-esteem. Instead, we develop ideas about ourselves and our place in the world as a result of our life experiences. Pe ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-do-people-think-about-themselves-cyp
Mind Reading
The Mind Reading information handout forms part of the cognitive distortions series, designed to help clients and therapists to work more effectively ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/mind-reading
What Keeps Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd-going
Externalizing
The Externalizing information handout forms part of the cognitive distortions series, designed to help clients and therapists to work more effectively ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/externalizing
Strategies For People With Memory Problems
Memory is the ability to store, hold on to, and retrieve the information that we experience. For individuals with mood disorders, treatment of the moo ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/strategies-for-people-with-memory-problems
What Is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Our ‘What Is … ?’ series is a collection of one-page information handouts for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, handout ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-social-anxiety-disorder
Understanding Fears And Phobias
Our ‘Understanding…’ series is a collection of psychoeducation guides for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, they are co ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/understanding-fears-and-phobias
Eating And Your Energy Levels
The Eating and Your Energy Levels handout provides an overview of the relationship between food intake and energy levels. It graphically illustrates h ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/eating-and-your-energy-levels
Understanding Psychosis
Our ‘Understanding…’ series is a collection of psychoeducation guides for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, they are co ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/understanding-psychosis
Barriers Abusers Overcome In Order To Abuse
Individuals who have experienced abuse often focus on their own actions (or inactions) and blame themselves for their own abuse. This client informati ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/barriers-abusers-overcome-in-order-to-abuse
What Is Panic Disorder?
Our ‘What Is … ?’ series is a collection of one-page information handouts for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, handout ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-panic-disorder
Exposures For Fear Of Appearing Anxious
Concerns about appearing anxious in front of others plays a central role in social anxiety. Exposure is an effective treatment for tackling these fear ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/exposures-for-fear-of-appearing-anxious
Challenging Your Negative Thinking (Archived)
NOTE: An improved version of this resource is available here: Evaluating Unhelpful Automatic Thoughts. Older versions of a resource may be archived in ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/challenging-your-negative-thinking
What Does The Brain Do? (Lobes and Regions)
The human brain is the center of the body’s nervous system and the seat of cognition. It is responsible for everything that we do, feel and perceive ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-does-the-brain-do-lobes-and-regions
Recognizing Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Complex PTSD) may develop after exposure to an event (or series of events) of an extremely threatening or horr ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-complex-post-traumatic-stress-disorder
What Keeps Burnout Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-burnout-going
Understanding Depersonalization And Derealization
Our ‘Understanding…’ series is a collection of psychoeducation guides for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, they are co ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/understanding-depersonalization-and-derealization
Mental Filter
The Mental Filter information handout forms part of the cognitive distortions series, designed to help clients and therapists to work more effectively ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/mental-filter
Trauma, Dissociation, And Grounding (Archived)
NOTE: An improved version of this resource is available here: Trauma And Dissociation. Older versions of a resource may be archived in the event that ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/trauma-dissociation-and-grounding
Magnification And Minimization
The Magnification And Minimization information handout forms part of the cognitive distortions series, designed to help clients and therapists to work ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/magnification-and-minimization
Critical Care And PTSD
The Critical Care And PTSD information handout is designed to help clients to learn about the properties of critical care that can increase the likeli ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/critical-care-and-ptsd
What Does The Brain Do? (Lobes)
The human brain is the centre of the body’s nervous system and the seat of cognition. It is responsible for everything that we do, feel, and perceiv ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-does-the-brain-do-lobes
Psychology Tools For Overcoming Panic
This helpful workbook will teach you everything you need to know about panic. Drawing upon the evidence base, Psychology Tools for Overcoming Panic ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/psychology-tools-for-overcoming-panic
Breathing To Calm The Body Sensations Of Panic (Psychology Tools For Overcoming Panic)
Psychology Tools for Overcoming Panic takes a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach to this common anxiety problem. This chapter discusses the ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/breathing-to-calm-the-body-sensations-of-panic-psychology-tools-for-overcoming-panic
Recognizing Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by marked symptoms of anxiety that persist, more days than not, for at least several months. Peopl ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad
Jumping To Conclusions
The Jumping to Conclusions information handout forms part of the cognitive distortions series, designed to help clients and therapists to work more ef ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/jumping-to-conclusions
Personalizing
The Personalizing information handout forms part of the cognitive distortions series, designed to help clients and therapists to work more effectively ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/personalizing
What Is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?
Many people have concerns about how they look, but significant and persistent worry about one's appearance may be a sign of body dysmorphic disorder ( ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd
Fortune Telling
The Fortune Telling information handout forms part of the cognitive distortions series, designed to help clients and therapists to work more effective ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/fortune-telling
Everyday 'Unusual' Experiences
Everyone has powerful experiences from time to time, and there are many very ordinary reasons why people have experiences that are considered ‘unusu ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/everyday-unusual-experiences
Overcoming Insomnia (Second Edition): Therapist Guide
Overcoming Insomnia comes in two volumes. This page is for the Therapist Guide. Click on the following link to access the Client Workbook. It is ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/overcoming-insomnia-therapist-guide
Disqualifying Others
This Disqualifying Others information handout forms part of the cognitive distortions series, designed to help clients and therapists to work more eff ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/disqualifying-others
Exercise For Mental Health
Exercise is an evidence-based treatment for depression and anxiety and research suggests that, in the treatment of depression, exercise interventions ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/exercise-for-mental-health
[Free Guide] Critical Illness Intensive Care And Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
This is a free guide designed for people who have spent time in an intensive care unit and are experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/critical-illness-intensive-care-and-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
Recognizing Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder is characterized by excessive fear regarding one or more social situations. People with social anxiety are concerned about bei ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-social-anxiety-disorder
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference is one of the earliest and broadest cognitive disotortions described in CBT. Beck defines it as "the process of forming an interpr ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/arbitrary-inference
Overgeneralization
The Overgeneralization information handout forms part of the cognitive distortions series, designed to help clients and therapists to work more effect ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/overgeneralization
Hindsight Bias (Archived)
Survivors of loss or trauma often think "If only …". Hindsight Bias is a cognitive bias / cognitive illusion which makes events seem more predictabl ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/hindsight-bias-archived
What Keeps Anorexia Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-anorexia-going
What Keeps Psychosis Going?
The "What Keeps It Going?" series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concise, t ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-psychosis-going
Understanding Anorexia
Our ‘Understanding…’ series is a collection of psychoeducation guides for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, they are co ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/understanding-anorexia
Labeling
Identifying negative automatic thoughts and reappraising unhelpful thinking is a core element of cognitive therapy. Teaching clients to recognize the ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/labeling
Fact Or Opinion
One cognitive error which commonly results in distress is to act on our opinions as though they were facts. This CBT exercise helps clients to practic ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/fact-or-opinion
Recognizing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may develop after exposure to an extremely threatening or horrific event, or series of events. It is characteriz ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
Thoughts In CBT (Psychology Tools For Living Well)
Cognitive behavioral therapy can help your clients to live happier and more fulfilling lives. Psychology Tools for Living Well is a self-help course ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/thoughts-in-cbt-psychology-tools-for-living-well
What Is Memory?
Like other aspects of cognition, transient difficulties with memory can be caused by stress or fatigue and there is a documented decline in memory fun ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-is-memory
What Keeps Bulimia Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/what-keeps-bulimia-going
Recognizing Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is characterized by the persistent preoccupation with defects or flaws in one’s appearance that are either unnoticeable or ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-body-dysmorphic-disorder
Sleep Hygiene (Audio)
The Sleep Hygiene audio track is taken from the Psychology Tools For Overcoming PTSD Audio Collection. It is designed to teach the principles of effec ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/sleep-hygiene-audio
Operant Conditioning
Operant conditioning / instrumental learning is a mechanism by which behaviors can be strengthened or weakened over time. This information handout des ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/operant-conditioning
Progress In Therapy
The Progress In Therapy information handout graphically illustrates metaphors for trajectories of progress (or how progress might be subjectively expe ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/progress-in-therapy
Understanding Bulimia
Our ‘Understanding…’ series is a collection of psychoeducation guides for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, they are co ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/understanding-bulimia
Recognizing Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder (DPD)
Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder is characterized by experiences of unreality and detachment from oneself and the world. Experiences of depers ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-depersonalization-derealization-disorder-dpd
Recognizing Specific Phobia
Specific phobia is characterized by marked and excessive fear or anxiety concerning a particular object or situation, and which is out of proportion t ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-specific-phobia
Recognizing Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is characterized by marked and excessive fear of situations such as open or public spaces where escape or help might not be available, and ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-agoraphobia
Recognizing Binge Eating Disorder
Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by frequent and recurrent episodes of binge eating, which is defined as a period of time in which the individua ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-binge-eating-disorder
Classical Conditioning
Classical conditioning is a process by which stimuli become associated with responses. This information handout describes key principles of Classical ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/classical-conditioning
Recognizing Panic Disorder
Panic attacks are discrete episodes of intense fear or apprehension which are accompanied by the rapid onset of characteristic physiological and cogni ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-panic-attacks-and-panic-disorder
Behaviors In Panic (Psychology Tools For Overcoming Panic)
Psychology Tools for Overcoming Panic takes a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach to this common anxiety problem. This chapter discusses beha ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/behaviors-in-panic-psychology-tools-for-overcoming-panic
Recognizing Hoarding Disorder
Hoarding Disorder is characterized by the ongoing accumulation of possessions that result in living spaces becoming overwhelmed to the point that thei ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/recognizing-hoarding-disorder
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