DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List
Learn how a DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List can help your clients manage emotional crises. Download our helpful PDF template and example to get started.
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What is a DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List?
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on the psychosocial aspects of treatment, helping patients identify and change patterns of behavior that are not helpful. One of the key facets of DBT is developing distress tolerance skills.
Distress tolerance is a person's ability to manage actual or perceived emotional distress. Rather than avoiding or escaping from distressing situations, DBT helps individuals to accept and tolerate distress as a natural part of life. DBT proposes several strategies, such as distraction, self-soothing, and considering pros and cons, to improve one's distress tolerance.
Therapists may assign patients to practice different distress tolerance skills in-session and at home using a. This checklist may include distracting oneself from distress, self-soothing through mindful and calming activities, improving the moment, accepting reality, and so on.
Practicing DBT distress tolerance skills can help individuals develop the skills needed to cope with and tolerate difficult emotions and experiences. In turn, this can help them become better equipped to deal with distressing situations in the future.
Printable DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List
Download this DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List to help your clients manage their distress.
How does it work?
Carepatron's free printable DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List is fully digital and easy to use. Follow these steps to use the template:
Step One: Access the template
Get a copy of the DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List through the link provided on this page. You can also download it via the Carepatron app or our resource library.
Step Two: Discuss the list with your client
Explain to your client how the DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List works. Tell them the skills listed are designed to help them manage emotional crises.
Step Three: Client uses the skills list
Provide your client plenty of time to work through the list and practice the skills they need. You can also use additional DBT resources to help them complete their distress tolerance tasks.
Step Four: Track progress and assess results
Monitor your client's progress regularly with specific measurements for improvement. This will help you adjust the skills as needed and ensure that your client gets the most out of their DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List.
DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List Example (Sample)
We've prepared a DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List PDF sample to illustrate how to use our template. This sample can be a reference when supporting your clients in DBT sessions or for educational purposes. You can access the sample here or download the PDF version.
Download the free DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List Example (Sample)
When to use DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List?
Carepatron's free DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List can help your clients cope with overwhelming emotions. It is especially useful when a person needs to learn healthy, effective ways to manage stressful situations. Moreover, you can use this template to:
Manage high emotional intensity
This DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List helps your clients learn how to manage their emotions healthily and prevent themselves from getting overwhelmed. It encourages them to focus on the present moment and use coping strategies for intense emotional situations.
Practice problem-solving skills
This template teaches your clients how to think outside the box regarding difficult, high-intensity scenarios. By practicing their problem-solving skills, they can better understand how to approach stressful situations in the future.
Develop a sense of independence
The DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List encourages your clients to rely on themselves and not on others for emotional support. This way, they become more self-reliant and independent while managing intense emotions.
Increase resilience
You can use this template to help increase your client’s emotional resilience and encourage them to take a proactive approach to difficult situations. They can then develop the skills to stay calm and manage their emotions healthily.
Benefits of the free DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List
Here are some advantages of Carepatron's free DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List:
It's entirely digital and easy to use
Our free template is fully digital, making it easier for you to access and use with your clients. Plus, its simple layout lets you quickly get the information you need without any hassle.
It's customizable
You can customize this template according to your client’s needs and preferences. You can add or remove skills as needed so you can create a DBT skills list that can help your clients in the best way possible.
It's cost-effective
Our template is free to use, reducing overhead costs for your practice. More importantly, it saves time, allowing you to focus more on providing effective service to your clients rather than laboring over cumbersome paperwork.
It encourages therapist-client communication
This template is a great communication tool between you and your clients. It makes it easier to pinpoint areas of improvement, track progress, and discuss concerns, resulting in a more effective and transparent therapeutic relationship.
Commonly asked questions
Mental health professionals specializing in dialectical behavior therapy can utilize DBT Distress Tolerance Skills Lists to guide clients in effectively navigating their challenges.
DBT Distress Tolerance Skills Lists allow clients to express and manage emotions, work towards resolving interpersonal conflicts, enhance awareness of thoughts and feelings, and develop healthier problem-solving strategies.
You can integrate a DBT Distress Tolerance Skills List as a component of your overall therapeutic approach. It proves particularly valuable when aiding clients in cultivating healthier distress tolerance strategies during overwhelming or emotionally dysregulated moments.
