CBT in the Workplace: All-or-Nothing Thinking & Overgeneralization

How to Use This Module

Review the slides under Watch / Review.
Complete the assigned reading and workbook activities.
Submit the Knowledge Check.
Complete the reflection assignment.

⚠️ Complete items in order. Progress builds week to week.

Educational Disclaimer

This course is for educational purposes only and does not constitute psychotherapy, counseling, diagnosis, or treatment. Participation in this course does not establish a therapist–client relationship.

🔹 Overview

This week focuses on identifying extreme thinking patterns that often appear in the workplace. These patterns—such as all-or-nothing thinking and overgeneralization—can intensify stress, perfectionism, and emotional burnout.

By learning to recognize when thoughts become rigid or exaggerated, you’ll begin to interrupt these patterns and respond with greater balance and flexibility. This awareness is a key step in improving emotional regulation and workplace effectiveness.

🔹 Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

Define all-or-nothing thinking and overgeneralization.
Identify examples of these distortions in workplace situations.
Recognize how extreme thinking increases stress and decreases flexibility.
Practice reframing rigid thoughts into more balanced alternatives.

Watch/Review

Use the arrows to navigate all slides before moving on to reading and workbook exercises.

WEEK 2 – All-or-Nothing Thinking & Overgeneralization (student).pptx

Readings

Practice - Workbook

CBT in the Workplace – Week 2 Student Workbook.1.docx

Self-Assessment

CBT in the Workplace – Week 2 Self-Assessment.docx

Knowledge Check

CBT WeeK 2 Quiz.docx

Reflection

Which cognitive distortion (e.g., all-or-nothing thinking, catastrophizing, mind reading) do you notice most often in your work environment?
How does this pattern of thinking influence your stress levels, decision-making, or interactions with others?
How might becoming more aware of this distortion help you respond more effectively in future workplace situations?

Wrap-Up / Looking Ahead

This week focused on identifying extreme thinking patterns and understanding how they contribute to stress, perfectionism, and burnout.

As you move forward, pay attention to moments when polarized thoughts arise and practice noticing them without judgment.

Next week, we will dive deeper into Week 3 - Catastrophizing & Fortune Telling, learning strategies to interrupt these distortions and apply more balanced thinking in the workplace.

Week 2 – Readings Identifying Extreme Thinking Patterns.docx