Making sense of mixed behavioural experiment results
A companion handout for reviewing partial, unclear or adverse behavioural experiment results with a client. It separates observations, remaining uncertainty and possible next steps without requiring the original prediction to be disproved.
Written by Tarun Vermani, Trainee Clinical Psychologist Last reviewed
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Making sense of mixed behavioural experiment results
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When only part of it happened
Separate what happened from what did not. Feelings alone cannot tell you how others responded.
Fictional illustration: Someone expected to lose their words and be unable to finish a conversation. They paused, then finished. The pause happened; being unable to finish did not. The next conversation is still unknown.
When you cannot tell yet
Name missing information without filling it in with a guess. The situation may not have tested your question.
Fictional illustration: An invitation has no reply that evening. The sender knows only that no reply has arrived, not why. They agree when to review this with their therapist, rather than repeatedly checking.
When something difficult really happened
Take real difficulties seriously. Discuss support, care or protection before another test. You do not have to explain away what happened.
Fictional illustration: Someone asked for help and received a dismissive reply. That hurt, and the reply was real. They discuss support and boundaries with their therapist and choose not to repeat that request for now.
Questions that can help
Choose any that fit. You can leave a question unanswered.
Your learning and next step
Keep conclusions as specific as the evidence allows. You might choose a clearer test, practical support, or no further test for now.
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When to use ‘Making sense of mixed behavioural experiment results’
‘Making sense of mixed behavioural experiment results’ is a psychoeducation handout based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). It draws on core CBT skills used right across the model, with presentations including depression, anxiety, OCD, trauma and low self-esteem, rather than being tied to a single diagnosis.
It is designed to be read within therapy rather than as a standalone self-help tool: a therapist introduces it and discusses it with the client. You can preview the full handout above, then assign it for clients to read between sessions on any device or download it as a print-ready PDF. Where a short reflection is included, it offers space to respond to the reading.
How it works
Most people work through it in around 12 minutes. It moves through five short sections to read:
- When only part of it happened: Separate what happened from what did not. Feelings alone cannot tell you how others responded. Fictional illustration: Someone expected to…
- When you cannot tell yet: Name missing information without filling it in with a guess. The situation may not have tested your question. Fictional illustration: An…
- When something difficult really happened: Take real difficulties seriously. Discuss support, care or protection before another test. You do not have to explain away what…
- Questions that can help: Choose any that fit. You can leave a question unanswered.
- Your learning and next step: Keep conclusions as specific as the evidence allows. You might choose a clearer test, practical support, or no further test for now.
The handout can be read on a phone, tablet or computer, or downloaded as a print-ready PDF. If it includes a reflection, answers entered on the Formulate platform are saved automatically and shared back with the therapist for review before the next session.
The CBT approach behind it
‘Making sense of mixed behavioural experiment results’ introduces a CBT approach that involves testing fearful predictions through real-world behavioural experiments. 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 handout is grounded in established cognitive behavioural therapy theory and practice. Key sources include:
- Bennett-Levy, J., Butler, G., Fennell, M., Hackmann, A., Mueller, M., & Westbrook, D. (Eds.) (2004). Oxford Guide to Behavioural Experiments in Cognitive Therapy. Oxford University Press.
- McManus, F., Van Doorn, K., & Yiend, J. (2012). Examining the effects of thought records and behavioral experiments in instigating belief change. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 43(1), 540-547.
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
- NHS 111 (NHS 24 in Scotland): 111 — choose the mental health option for urgent help, in England, Scotland and Wales (in Wales, press 2)
- Lifeline: 0808 808 8000 — for urgent help in Northern Ireland, free, day or night
- Samaritans: 116 123 — free, day or night, 365 days a year
- Shout: 85258 — text SHOUT, free, day or night
- SANEline: 0300 304 7000 — 4pm–10pm, every day
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