Cognitive Reframing

What is cognitive reframing?

Cognitive reframing is the practice of deliberately changing the way you interpret a situation, thought, or event in order to change how you feel and respond to it. The facts stay the same, but a different frame, for example seeing a setback as feedback rather than failure, changes their emotional and practical impact.

It has roots in cognitive psychology and is a common tool in coaching, closely tied to building a growth mindset.

Why cognitive reframing matters

Much of how we experience work comes from our interpretation of events, not the events themselves. Reframing gives people agency over that interpretation, which reduces unhelpful stress, opens up options, and supports resilience. It is a practical skill that helps people respond rather than react.

How to reframe

Notice the frame. Catch the automatic interpretation you are running.
Question it. Ask whether it is true, complete, or the only way to see it.
Choose a more useful frame. Find an interpretation that is both honest and more helpful.
Act from it. Let the new frame shape a different, better response.

Change the frame, change the outcome

Coaches help people notice and shift unhelpful thinking, one of the fastest routes to a different response. Coachello brings this kind of practical, everyday coaching to your whole organisation.

Help your people think more flexibly. Book a demo.

FAQs

Is cognitive reframing the same as positive thinking?

No. Reframing is about finding a more accurate and useful interpretation, not forcing false positivity. A good reframe is honest as well as helpful.

Where does cognitive reframing come from?

It has roots in cognitive psychology and cognitive behavioural approaches, and it is widely used in coaching to shift unhelpful thinking.

Can you learn to reframe?

Yes. It is a practical skill built through noticing your automatic interpretations, questioning them, and choosing more useful frames, often with a coach’s help.