Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) teaches two core strategies for coping with emotions: Changing or accepting them. Emotion regulation techniques focus on changing emotions from more to less intense or flipping them to something entirely different.
The Emotion Regulation: DBT skills worksheet introduces four skills commonly used in DBT:
- Act Opposite
- Check the Facts
- PLEASE
- Pay Attention to Positive Events
Many clients love DBT skills because they make intuitive sense… and they work! This handout briefly introduces each skill with a short definition and examples. Then, instructions help your clients apply them in their own lives.
After reviewing this handout in session, spend time on each technique that resonates with your client. How would they adapt these skills to their own life? When should they try using them? What barriers might they face?
