Automatic Thought Record

An Automatic Thought Record (ATR) is a tool often used in cognitive-behavioral therapy to help individuals identify and challenge their automatic thoughts—the spontaneous, often negative thoughts that arise in response to situations. By writing down these thoughts, along with the emotions they trigger and the context in which they occur, individuals can gain insight into their thinking patterns. This process enables them to evaluate the accuracy of these thoughts and replace unhelpful ones with more balanced, rational alternatives, ultimately improving their emotional well-being and responses to challenging situations.