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Work through a structured process to decide whether a worry is practical (take action) or hypothetical (practise letting go).
Start with your worry and work through each question. This helps you decide whether to problem-solve or to practise accepting uncertainty.
Use as a companion to the worry classification worksheet to provide a structured decision-making process for responding to worries. Helps clients develop an internalised algorithm for managing worry episodes between sessions.
Walk through the decision tree with a specific recent worry in session before asking the client to use it independently. Frame it as a practical tool that externalises the decision-making process until it becomes automatic.
Simplify the tree for clients who find multiple decision points overwhelming. For visually oriented clients, a flowchart format with colour-coding for different pathways can improve engagement.
Avoid if the client is using the decision tree rigidly as a safety behaviour rather than as a flexible guide. The goal is internalisation of the decision-making process, not dependence on the tool.
The key therapeutic moment is the branch point where the client recognises a worry as hypothetical and chooses to disengage rather than problem-solve. Track how quickly clients reach this branch point over time as a measure of metacognitive skill development.
Suitable for clients working with worry, gad, problem-solving, uncertainty, decision tree. This tool can be used as a standalone worksheet or as part of a structured homework plan.
Create a free account to access 10 worksheets per month.
Identify and challenge negative beliefs about worry — the beliefs that worry is uncontrollable or dangerous.
Track Attention Training Technique (ATT) practice sessions with focus ratings and observations.
Practise noticing and tolerating everyday uncertainty to build your tolerance muscle.
A formulation based on Wells' metacognitive model of GAD — mapping the role of positive and negative beliefs about worry in maintaining the worry cycle.