Tracking emotions and their impact on others is a simple but powerful way to improve relationships.
Our DBT Emotion Diary helps clients track their emotions and reflect on how they expressed them, how others responded, and areas in need of improvement. This resource brings together two key aspects of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. By completing the diary over time, clients and their therapists can identify difficulties and then work toward improvement.
Use this diary with clients who struggle to regulate their emotions or express them effectively. Some common use cases include:
- emotional overwhelm or dysregulation
- interpersonal conflict or dissatisfaction
- emotional numbness or repression
- reactive or impulsive behaviors
After clients complete the diary, discuss the emotions they experienced and how they communicated them to others. Emphasize that expressing feelings is essential to good mental health and rewarding relationships. Discuss how clients can express their emotions in a way that’s authentic and respectful to others.
Depending on clients’ needs, consider following up this activity with additional work on emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, or both.
