Core Belief Worksheet
Identify a core belief, rate its conviction, gather evidence for and against, and develop a more balanced alternative.
Written by Tarun Vermani, Trainee Clinical Psychologist Last reviewed
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Core Belief Worksheet
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The Core Belief
Examining the Evidence
More Balanced Belief
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The Core Belief Worksheet is an interactive cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) worksheet, most often used in CBT for depression and low mood.
It is designed to be used within therapy rather than as a standalone self-help tool: a therapist introduces it, works through it collaboratively, and helps make sense of what it surfaces. You can preview the full worksheet above, then assign it digitally for clients to complete between sessions on any device — or download it as a print-ready PDF.
How it works
Most people work through it in around 15 minutes. It moves through three short steps:
- The Core Belief
- Examining the Evidence
- More Balanced Belief
Completed on the Formulate platform, your client's answers are saved automatically and shared straight back to you, so you can review them before the next session rather than waiting for a paper copy to come back.
The CBT approach behind it
In common with other CBT methods, the Core Belief Worksheet works by noticing and re-evaluating unhelpful automatic thoughts (cognitive restructuring). The aim is not positive thinking but a clearer, shared understanding of what keeps a difficulty going — and practical, testable ways to change it.
Because it is a CBT tool it stays focused on the here-and-now links between thoughts, feelings, the body and behaviour, and it works best as one part of a wider course of therapy rather than as advice or a diagnosis.
Evidence & sources
This worksheet is grounded in established cognitive behavioural therapy theory and practice. Key sources include:
- Beck, A.T., Rush, A.J., Shaw, B.F., & Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive Therapy of Depression. New York: Guilford Press.
- Padesky, C.A. & Mooney, K.A. (1990). Clinical tip: Presenting the cognitive model to clients. International Cognitive Therapy Newsletter, 6, 13-14.
- Greenberger, D. & Padesky, C.A. (2016). Mind Over Mood (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
For use alongside professional support
Formulate provides educational CBT resources for use with a qualified therapist. They are not a substitute for professional assessment, diagnosis, or crisis care.
If you need urgent help now:
- Emergency services: 999 — if you or someone else is in immediate danger
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More Depression worksheets
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A longitudinal CBT formulation based on Beck's cognitive model of depression — mapping early experiences through core beliefs to current maintenance cycles.
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Behavioural Activation Schedule
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Downward Arrow Worksheet
Trace a negative automatic thought down through underlying assumptions to the core belief using the "what would that mean?" technique.
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Rumination Functional Analysis
Track rumination episodes and analyse their triggers, content, function, and consequences — to understand why you ruminate and what alternatives might work.
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Pleasure Predicting Experiment
Test the depressive prediction that "nothing will be enjoyable" by predicting pleasure before activities and comparing with actual experience.
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