Navigation
Worksheets
Interactives
Videos
Articles
Client Education
Professional Guides
Topics
Problems
Anger
Anxiety
Communication
Depression
More +
Emotions
Grief
Relationships
Self-Esteem
Stress
Substance Use
Treatments
Art
CBT
DBT
Education
More +
Goals
Parenting and Behavior
Positive Psychology
Relaxation
Values
More
About
Help Center
Back online. You are currently offline.

Your browser is outdated. To ensure the best experience, update to the latest version of your preferred browser.

DBT Skill: ACCEPTS

worksheet

In dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), distress tolerance refers to a set of skills for coping with uncomfortable emotions. One such skill is represented by the acronym “ACCEPTS.”

ACCEPTS outlines strategies for distracting oneself from distressing emotions, giving them time to lessen in intensity, or fade away. Using ACCEPTS, clients will learn a variety of distraction techniques, including focusing on others, creating new competing emotions, and participating in distracting activities.

The first page of the DBT Skill: ACCEPTS worksheet breaks down the acronym, providing a description and examples of each technique. The second page includes prompts for clients to create their own ACCEPTS plan.

When working with a client to create a personal plan, emphasize that their responses should include techniques they would be likely to use, which may be different than the examples on the first page.

For a broader view of other DBT distress tolerance skills, see our overview of the topic:

Success

Your account has been created.

Would you like to explore more features?

Recommended

Professional

Customizable and fillable worksheets.

Unlimited access to interactive therapy tools.

Support the creation of new tools for the entire mental health community.

Ad-free browsing.

See Plans