Adults and older teens working on social anxiety, and the therapists supporting them, may find this information sheet useful for spotting the thoughts that sit behind anxious feelings. It explains how to use a CBT-style ABC analysis to link an activating event with beliefs, emotions, body sensations and behaviour, then introduces prompts for uncovering a stronger “hot thought”.
This social anxiety ABC analysis thought worksheet is a printable PDF designed to help adults, older teens and practitioners map out what happens before, during and after a difficult social situation. The ABC format gives space to note the situation, the beliefs or automatic thoughts that show up, and the emotional, physical and behavioural responses that follow.
It can be used as a CBT worksheet in therapy sessions, as a home learning task between appointments, or as a gentle revision prompt when practising how to notice anxious thinking patterns. The included prompts encourage users to look beyond the first surface thought and explore what the situation may seem to mean about themselves, other people, or being judged. This can support conversations about avoidance, safety behaviours, assumptions and interpretations.
The party example makes the process easier to follow, showing how a brief worry can develop into a stronger hot thought. Practitioners may use the sheet for psychoeducation, guided reflection, worksheet packs or session planning, while individuals can download and print it to complete at their own pace before choosing a next step. It also offers a clear record to revisit in later work. Produced by the Centre for Clinical Interventions.
