CounselingExamImagine your mind has a sneaky, uninvited guest: cognitive distortions. These negative biases are like crafty tricksters that distort your perception of reality, leading to irrational fears, overreactions, and skewed thinking patterns. Sounds daunting, right? But don't worry; we're here to help you beat these mental invaders at their own game. In this riveting episode, we unpack the concept of cognitive distortions in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exploring common tricksters such as fortune telling, magnification, minimization, and catastrophizing. We even share some personal encounters with these distortions, to show you that everyone - yes, even us - can fall prey to these thought-twisting bandits.But what happens when these distortions start to misread your thoughts? We explore this in the second chapter, diving into various distortions like jumping to conclusions, emotional reasoning, and disqualifying the positive. We even toss in a bit of pop culture, because who said learning can't be fun? By the end of this episode, we promise you that not only will you be able to spot these distortions from a mile away, but you'll also have the tools to dismantle them. So join us for this enlightening journey, participate in our interactive quiz, and let's take the first step towards a healthier, happier mind.If you need to study for your NCMHCE narrative exam, try the free samplers at: CounselingExam.comThis podcast is not associated with the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) or any state or governmental agency responsible for licensure.