Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) remains one of the top evidence-based modalities for helping clients with emotional dysregulation, self-harm, trauma, and interpersonal challenges. As of 2025, therapists have more worksheet options than ever—printable, digital, interactive—and it’s essential to pick tools that are both clinically effective and engaging for clients.
Here’s a curated list of the best DBT worksheets in 2025, why they matter, and how to use them in your practice.
What to Look for in a Great DBT Worksheet in 2025
Before jumping into the list, here are criteria that help identify the best tools:
- Alignment with DBT skill modules (Mindfulness; Distress Tolerance; Emotion Regulation; Interpersonal Effectiveness)
- Clarity & usability: Simple instructions; visually clear; accessible to teens & adults alike
- Interactivity: Fillable fields, digital formats, or even app integrations
- Evidence-based or clinically validated → backed by research or well-known DBT sources
- Adaptability: Works in session + as homework; works for teletherapy if needed
Top DBT Worksheets / Handouts Therapists Should Be Using
Here are some of the very best DBT worksheets that meet these criteria, along with what makes them strong and how you can integrate them.
| Worksheet / Handout | DBT Module | What Makes It Excellent | How To Use In Therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMPROVE the Moment (Distress Tolerance) – Therapist Aid | Distress Tolerance | Uses the IMPROVE acronym (Imagery, Meaning, Prayer, One thing in moment, Vacation, Encouragement) with practical examples, and client fill-in section. (Therapist Aid) | Introduce this in a crisis situation; assign as homework for clients to try when overwhelmed. Good “first aid” in or out of session. |
| TIPP / Distress Tolerance Skills Handout – Therapist Aid | Distress Tolerance | A quick-action worksheet for high emotional arousal (temperature, intense exercise, etc.). Practical and easy to remember. (Therapist Aid) | Use when clients describe overwhelm; keep a physical/digital copy ready for them to use in crisis. |
|
Full DBT Workbook Bundle - Therapy Courses |
4 pillars of DBT with additional prompts/handouts | Offers multiple skills; gives space for clients to apply the skill, reflect on barriers. (Therapy Courses) | Use over multiple sessions—one skill per week. Review successes and challenges. |
| Wise Mind & Emotion-Diary / Wise Mind Handout – Therapist Aid | Mindfulness / Emotion Regulation | Helps clients understand and differentiate wise mind vs emotional mind vs reasonable mind; tracks how emotions affect behavior. (Therapist Aid) | Good early in DBT work; helps with grounding and self-understanding. Also good for journaling homework. |
| STOP Skill Worksheet – Choosing Therapy | Distress Tolerance | Very current (2025); gives structured steps for STOP: Stop, Take a step back, Observe, Proceed Mindfully. Excellent for impulsivity. (ChoosingTherapy.com) | Use when clients struggle with impulsive reactions. Role-play the STOP process in-session. |
| DBT Handouts & Resources from dbt.tools | All Modules | Offers a variety of handouts & practice sheets across multiple DBT modules (Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, Interpersonal Effectiveness). Reliable source. (Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Tools) | Use to supplement your own worksheets or when you need ready-made, clinically credible handouts. |
| 15 Printable DBT Worksheets & Handouts – Mental Health Center Kids | All Modules, with child/teen focus | Teen-friendly style, engaging prompts, variety, printable formats. (Mental Health Center Kids) | Very useful for therapists who work with adolescents. Also nice for remote/hybrid therapy. |
How To Integrate These Worksheets Into Your Practice
Here are steps to make the best use of these DBT worksheets, so they don’t just live as downloads but actively improve therapy outcomes.
1. Map worksheets to session goals
- Before a session, decide which DBT skill is most relevant (e.g. a client stuck in high impulsivity → distress tolerance).
- Choose one worksheet for that skill (don’t overload).
2. Walk through them together
- Complete part of the worksheet in-session, so the client understands how to use it.
- Model the reflective parts yourself, when appropriate.
3. Set as homework + accountability
- Have clients bring completed worksheets next session.
- Use their reflections to spot patterns over time.
4. Use engaging formats
- For younger or tech-savvy clients: interactive PDFs, color visuals, or digital boards.
- For clients who struggle with structure: shorter worksheets, or combo of worksheet + guided discussion.
5. Update regularly
- Review which worksheets are being used/ignored.
- Solicit feedback from clients: what rang true? What felt irrelevant or repetitive?
- Add new ones or modify existing content periodically to stay relevant (by year, culture, pop culture references, etc.).
Why These Worksheets Are Especially Important in 2025
- Increasing remote / hybrid therapy formats → need for fillable, digital, and printable options.
- More competition for therapist resources; clients expect usefulness + clarity.
- AI tools and “AI overviews” (like Google/AI summarizers) reward depth, credibility, and authority. Having your site be a go-to source of updated, excellent DBT worksheets helps with “being worth finding” (as we've seen in 2025 SEO / marketing shifts).
- Engagement & trust matter more: worksheets that are interactive, well-designed, and client-friendly create better engagement, which not only helps clinical outcomes but also helps your content/web presence.