CBT in the Workplace - Week 6 - Emotional Reasoning & Discounting the Positive

CBT in the Workplace: Emotional Reasoning & Discounting the Positive

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

Week 6 Overview: Emotional Reasoning & Discounting the Positive

This week focuses on two closely related cognitive distortions—emotional reasoning and discounting the positive—that often shape how individuals interpret workplace experiences. These patterns occur when emotions are treated as facts or when positive feedback and accomplishments are minimized or dismissed altogether.

You will explore how emotional reasoning can lead to inaccurate conclusions, such as assuming poor performance based solely on feelings of anxiety or self-doubt. At the same time, you’ll examine how discounting the positive reinforces negative self-beliefs by ignoring evidence of competence, growth, or success.

Through guided examples and reflection, this week emphasizes the importance of separating emotions from evidence. You will practice evaluating situations more objectively, recognizing when feelings are influencing interpretation, and learning to acknowledge positive feedback without dismissing it.

By the end of the week, you will have a clearer understanding of how emotional reasoning and discounting the positive reinforce one another—and how developing evidence-based thinking can lead to greater confidence, improved decision-making, and healthier workplace interactions.

🔹 Learning Objectives

By the end of this week, participants will be able to:
Recognize emotional reasoning and its influence on decision-making.
Distinguish feelings from facts in workplace situations.
Apply CBT strategies to challenge emotionally driven conclusions.
Improve emotional regulation during stress or conflict.

Watch/Review

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

Week 6 – Emotional Reasoning & Discounting the Positive (student).pptx

Reading

Emotional Reasoning & Discounting the Positive.docx

Practice - Workbook

Week 6 -Emotional Reasoning & Discounting the Positive.docx

Self-Assessment

CBT in the Workplace – Week 6 Self-Assessment.docx

Knowledge Check

Week 6 Quiz.docx

Reflection

Take a few moments to reflect on how emotional reasoning and discounting the positive show up in your work life. Use the questions below to deepen your awareness and prepare for continued skill-building.

Reflection Questions

Which form of emotional reasoning or discounting the positive do you notice most in your workplace experiences?
Consider moments when emotions shaped your interpretation of events or when you minimized positive feedback or success.
How does this pattern affect your confidence, decision-making, or relationships at work?
Reflect on how emotional assumptions or dismissed achievements influence your communication, motivation, or performance.
How might challenging these patterns change your outcomes?
Think about how acknowledging evidence, reframing thoughts, or accepting positive feedback could impact your work experience.

Reflection Reminder

Awareness is the first step toward change. Recognizing emotional reasoning and discounting the positive allows you to respond more thoughtfully and build greater confidence and resilience in the workplace.

Week 6 Wrap-Up / Looking Ahead

This week, you explored emotional reasoning and discounting the positive, two thinking patterns that often shape how emotions influence perception in the workplace. You learned how relying on feelings as evidence can lead to inaccurate conclusions, and how dismissing accomplishments or positive feedback can weaken confidence and motivation. By identifying these patterns, you began developing the ability to separate emotions from facts and recognize evidence more clearly.

Through reflection and practice, you strengthened your awareness of how emotional reactions can shape workplace behavior and decision-making. You also learned strategies to challenge these distortions by examining evidence, acknowledging successes, and responding with greater balance and clarity.

As you move into Week 7, the focus will shift to Core Beliefs and Workplace Schemas. You will explore how deeply held beliefs about yourself, others, and the world influence thought patterns, emotional responses, and long-term behavior—and how reshaping these beliefs can lead to lasting change.