Are you constantly assuming you know what others are thinking? Do you interpret a friend's silence as a sign they dislike you, or a colleague's quietness as disapproval? This could be a common thinking error called "Mind Reading."

In this episode, we delve into the cognitive distortion of mind reading, where you become convinced about assumptions about others' thoughts without checking for evidence. We'll explore real-life examples, from presentations gone awry to misinterpreted interactions with friends or partners.

Learn how this pattern can lead to anxiety, stress, self-doubt, and strained relationships. Often, engaging in mind reading can even become a self-fulfilling prophecy. We discuss why we tend to engage in this behavior, linking it to social anxiety and a "prepare for the worst" strategy.

Discover powerful techniques, often used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to challenge and overcome mind reading. These include:

• Identifying your specific predictions and examining the evidence for and against them.
• Techniques like Socratic questioning to evaluate the realism and basis of your thoughts.
• Decatastrophizing by asking "What if?" to assess the worst-case scenario.
• Putting your thoughts on trial to weigh evidence like a prosecutor and defense attorney.
• Focusing on knowing your own mind and values rather than trying to guess others' thoughts.
• Seeking evidence and asking direct questions instead of assuming.
• Other helpful practices like journaling, relaxation techniques, and positive affirmations.

Tune in to understand the impact of mind reading and equip yourself with practical strategies to foster healthier thinking patterns and improve your interactions and well-being. Let's learn to identify our assumptions and replace them with a more balanced perspective.

Works Cited

Bay Area CBT Center. "Understand and Overcome Mind Reading: Cognitive Distortion." Bay Area CBT Center, 7 Sept. 2024.

Bremner, Stacy. "The Only Time 'Mind-Reading' Is A Good Idea In Relationships." YourTango, Tango Publishing Corporation, 12 May 2024.

Centre for Clinical Interventions. "Module 5: Unhelpful Thinking Styles." Centre for Clinical Interventions, 2003.

GroundWork Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). "Feeling Anxious? Maybe You’re 'Mind Reading'." GroundWork Counseling, GroundWork Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), 2025.

Kessler, Brynne. "Mind Reading: How It Imbalances Your Relationship." Be Well Therapy Group, Be Well Therapy Group, 28 Jan. 2021.

nixonjm. "The 'mind reading' cognitive distortion and SA." Reddit, r/socialanxiety, n.d.

Smith, Kathleen. "Why Mind Reading Is Making You Anxious." Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, LLC, 18 Dec. 2019.

Therapist Aid LLC. "Cognitive Restructuring: Techniques for Clinicians." Therapist Aid, Therapist Aid LLC, 2025.

United States, Department of Veterans Affairs. "Exercise: ABCD Cognitive Restructuring." VA.gov. n.d.

Watson, Amanda. "Cognitive Distortions and Thinking Errors: Mind Reading." Psychotherapy Resources, 2025.