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PTSD / Trauma~15 min

Trauma Appraisal Worksheet

Identify and challenge stuck points — the unhelpful beliefs about the trauma and its aftermath that maintain PTSD symptoms.

Written by Tarun Vermani, Trainee Clinical Psychologist Last reviewed

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Stuck points are beliefs that developed from or were reinforced by the trauma — about safety, trust, power/control, esteem, and intimacy. They often take the form of overgeneralised conclusions (e.g. "The world is completely dangerous," "I can never trust anyone"). This worksheet helps you identify a stuck point, examine the evidence, and develop a more balanced perspective.

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The Stuck Point

Choose a value

Examining the Evidence

Are any of these thinking patterns involved?

More Balanced Belief

Choose a value
Change in conviction—

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When to use the Trauma Appraisal Worksheet

The Trauma Appraisal Worksheet is an interactive cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) worksheet, most often used in CBT for trauma and PTSD.

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:

  1. The Stuck Point
  2. Examining the Evidence
  3. 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 Trauma Appraisal 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:

  • Ehlers, A. & Clark, D.M. (2000). A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 38(4), 319-345. doi:10.1016/S0005-7967(99)00123-0
  • Resick, P.A. & Schnicke, M.K. (1993). Cognitive Processing Therapy for Rape Victims. Newbury Park: Sage.

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
  • Samaritans: 116 123 — free, day or night, 365 days a year
  • SANEline: 0800 689 5555 — 4:30pm–10:30pm, every day

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