Identifying Your Core Beliefs
Uncover the deeply held assumptions that shape your thoughts, feelings, and behavior
Identifying Your Core Beliefs
Uncover the deeply held assumptions that shape your thoughts, feelings, and behavior
Identifying Your Core Beliefs
Uncover the deeply held assumptions that shape your thoughts, feelings, and behavior
Core beliefs are the fundamental assumptions you hold about yourself, other people, and the world. They act as mental filters, shaping how you interpret every experience. Because core beliefs develop early in life and are reinforced over time, they often feel like absolute truths, even when they are inaccurate. Common categories of negative core beliefs include helplessness ('I am incompetent'), unlovability ('No one could truly care about me'), and worthlessness ('I am fundamentally flawed'). Identifying your core beliefs is the first step toward evaluating and changing the ones that cause harm.
Use the downward arrow technique to identify core beliefs: start with a recent automatic thought and keep asking 'If that were true, what would it mean about me?' until you reach a deep, absolute statement about yourself. Record each core belief below, where it came from, and how strongly you believe it right now.
| Core Belief | Category (Helplessness / Unlovability / Worthlessness) | Where / When You First Learned This | How Strongly You Believe It Now (0-100%) |
|---|---|---|---|
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See also
Clinical guides that use this worksheet
Common Questions
What is the Identifying Your Core Beliefs worksheet?
Core beliefs are the fundamental assumptions you hold about yourself, other people, and the world. They act as mental filters, shaping how you interpret every experience. Because core beliefs develop early in life and are reinforced over time, they often feel like absolute truths, even when they are inaccurate.
How do I use the Identifying Your Core Beliefs worksheet?
Fill out this worksheet digitally or print it for use in session. You can save your progress with a Pro account. Take your time with each column — there are no right or wrong answers.
Is the Identifying Your Core Beliefs worksheet free?
Yes. Like every worksheet on Therapy Resource, it is free to read, print, and download as a PDF, no account required. A Pro subscription adds online filling with saved progress, practice-branded PDF exports, and secure client sharing.
Can I fill out the Identifying Your Core Beliefs worksheet online?
Yes. Switch the worksheet to "Type on Screen" mode to fill in the fields directly in your browser before printing. Pro members can also save their entries across sessions and export the completed worksheet as a branded PDF.
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