A story from Distortion Detective
Riley: laughter in the hallway
Riley walks past a group of kids in the hallway and they burst out laughing right as she passes them.
“They're definitely laughing at me. There must be something wrong with how I look.”
In the game
Which thinking trap caught Riley? Name the trap, then check whether the thought holds up.
Free. Kids never need an account. Therapists and parents can guide from their own screen.
🖨️ Print the take-home sheet · the story, three questions to talk over, free
About Distortion Detective
Noticing a thought like "Nobody likes me" or "I always mess up." Naming the trap behind it, then checking whether the thought holds up.
Helpful for: negative self-talk, assuming the worst, black-and-white thinking, jumping to conclusions. More in the glossary
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River: first day at a new school
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River just moved to a new school in the middle of the year. It's lunchtime on his first day, and everyone already has their friend groups. He's standing in the cafeteria holding a tray, looking for somewhere to sit.