Worksheet
Crisis Survival DBT Skills
This DBT Crisis Survival Skills Worksheet offers practical tools from dialectical behavior therapy to help clients manage intense emotional pain without resorting to self-destructive behaviors. By practicing distress tolerance skills, clients can navigate challenging situations and build emotional resilience.
How to Use This Worksheet
This worksheet guides clients through breathing techniques, self-soothing activities, and wise mind strategies to prevent impulsive behaviors and reduce emotional distress. Therapists can introduce the worksheet during individual therapy sessions or assign it as between-session practice to support DBT skill application in real-life crisis situations.
Who It’s For
This worksheet is especially beneficial for clients with symptoms related to borderline personality disorder, anxiety, depression, or a history of self-harm or harmful behaviors. Clients who struggle with managing stress, staying present, or tolerating discomfort will benefit from learning and reinforcing these crisis survival skills.
Expected Outcomes
- Improved ability to tolerate and manage distressing thoughts
- Increased access to coping strategies
- Enhanced use of wise mind and self-compassion in difficult moments
- Greater emotional regulation and reduction in destructive behaviors
Related Topics
References
Prada, P., Perroud, N., Rüfenacht, E., & Nicastro, R. (2018). Strategies to deal with Suicide and Non-suicidal Self-Injury in Borderline Personality Disorder, the case of DBT. Frontiers in Psychology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02595
Frequently Asked Questions About Crisis Survival DBT Skills Resources
© Copyright 2026 Insight Network Inc. All rights reserved.
If you are in a crisis or any other person may be in danger - don’t use this site. Use these resources