Group Therapy Worksheets for Adults: The Ultimate Guide (Activities, Templates, + Therapist Scripts)

Group Therapy Worksheets for Adults: The Ultimate Guide (Activities, Templates, + Therapist Scripts)

Group therapy works because humans heal in connection — through shared experience, witnessing, validation, and practicing new skills in real time. But here’s what many clinicians quietly admit:

Group therapy is powerful…
but group therapy can also be chaotic.

People talk over each other.
Silence hangs in the room.
One client dominates.
Another shuts down.
Structure dissolves.

This is where group therapy worksheets become essential.
They give the group direction, rhythm, and containment — without disrupting connection.

This guide is the most complete resource online for group therapy worksheets for adults, including examples, scripts, activities, and therapist-ready templates.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. What Are Group Therapy Worksheets?
  2. Why Worksheets Work So Well in Group Settings
  3. Essential Group Therapy Worksheets for Adults
  4. Worksheets by Therapy Modality (CBT, DBT, ACT, Trauma, Somatic)
  5. Icebreakers, Reflections & Connection-Building Worksheets
  6. Processing Worksheets for Emotional + Cognitive Insight
  7. Group Therapy Worksheets for Mental Health Themes
  8. How to Facilitate Worksheets in Groups (Scripts Included)
  9. Common Mistakes in Group Worksheet Use
  10. Where to Get High-Quality Group Therapy Worksheets
  11. Free Group Therapy Worksheets Pack

1. What Are Group Therapy Worksheets?

Group therapy worksheets are structured tools that help group members:

  • reflect
  • share safely
  • build insight
  • learn skills
  • stay on topic
  • connect meaningfully
  • practice coping strategies
  • track progress

They act as equalizers in the room, giving every member a voice and helping therapists maintain emotional + time boundaries.

2. Why Worksheets Work So Well in Group Settings

Group worksheets:

✔ reduce anxiety for quieter members
✔ prevent dominant members from taking over
✔ create predictable structure
✔ reduce therapist burnout
✔ give shy clients something to hold or focus on
✔ support trauma-safe sharing
✔ allow introverts to process before speaking
✔ deepen insights through writing
✔ help groups transition between topics

Most importantly:

Worksheets turn a group of individuals into a shared learning community.

3. 10 Essential Group Therapy Worksheets for Adults

Below are the foundational worksheets every therapist should have ready.

⭐ 1. Group Check-In Sheet

A simple, grounding worksheet including:

  • mood rating
  • current challenge
  • wins
  • goal for today
  • one thing they’d like to share

Perfect for the first 10 minutes.

⭐ 2. Group Values Worksheet

Members identify:

  • personal values
  • group values
  • boundaries
  • expectations

Essential for session one.

⭐ 3. Emotional Awareness Worksheet

Helps members articulate:

  • emotions
  • triggers
  • body sensations
  • urges
  • needs

Can be used as a warm-up for emotional processing groups.

⭐ 4. CBT Thought Record (Group Version)

Group-friendly modification with smaller writing sections.
Great for cognitive processing.

⭐ 5. DBT Skills Worksheet (Group Edition)

Options for:

  • TIPP
  • STOP
  • Opposite Action
  • DEAR MAN
  • Radical Acceptance

Used for psychoeducation groups.

⭐ 6. Shame–Trigger Worksheet

Helps clients map shame responses without diving into trauma narratives.

⭐ 7. “My Coping Menu” Worksheet

Each member builds a personalized coping menu:

  • grounding skills
  • sensory tools
  • people to contact
  • self-soothing practices

Ideal for anxiety + depression groups.

⭐ 8. Group Reflection Sheet

Used at the end of session:

  • what I learned
  • what I want to practice
  • insight about myself
  • insight about others
  • questions to take into next week

⭐ 9. Boundary-Setting Worksheet

Structured prompts:

  • what boundary is needed
  • why it matters
  • scripts for communicating it
  • possible outcomes

Useful for interpersonal process groups.

⭐ 10. Goal-Setting Worksheet

Weekly SMART-style goals, perfect for ongoing therapy groups.

4. Worksheets by Therapy Modality

CBT Worksheets for Adult Groups

  • Thought Record (group version)
  • Trigger → Thought → Emotion → Behavior map
  • Unhelpful Thinking Styles list
  • Reframing practice
  • Problem-solving worksheet

Works well for anxiety, depression, and emotional regulation groups.

DBT Worksheets for Adult Groups

  • Distress tolerance skills sheets
  • Crisis plan
  • Opposite action worksheet
  • Emotion regulation log
  • Interpersonal effectiveness scripts

Great for skills-based groups.

ACT Worksheets for Groups

  • Values exploration
  • Cognitive fusion log
  • Acceptance worksheet
  • Self-as-context reflection
  • Committed action plan

Perfect for mindfulness-based groups.

Trauma-Informed Worksheets

  • Window of tolerance
  • Regulation plan
  • Body sensations awareness map
  • Trigger log
  • Grounding exercises

Help maintain safety when trauma themes emerge.

Somatic Worksheets

  • Breath awareness map
  • Tension release worksheet
  • Somatic check-in
  • Movement/micro-shifts log

Supports clients learning body-based regulation.

5. Icebreaker + Connection-Building Worksheets

These reduce awkwardness and build community.

⭐ 1. “Two Truths and a Coping Skill” Worksheet

Fun twist on the classic.

⭐ 2. “If My Emotions Had a Color” Worksheet

Great for expressive arts or mindfulness groups.

⭐ 3. “What I Want This Group to Know About Me”

Safety-building worksheet.

⭐ 4. “Shared Experiences” Worksheet

Prompts group members to identify things they have in common.

6. Processing Worksheets for Emotional Insight

Group processing can get overwhelming — these worksheets help contain it.

Emotional Processing Worksheet

  • What happened
  • How I felt
  • What part of me reacted
  • What I needed
  • How the group can support me

Conflict Reflection Worksheet

Useful when interpersonal friction emerges.

Shame → Repair Worksheet

Breaks down:

  • the shame story
  • triggers
  • common reactions
  • repair actions

7. Group Therapy Worksheets by Mental Health Theme

Anxiety Groups

  • Worry map
  • Exposure hierarchy (group-friendly)
  • Fear thermometer
  • Grounding menu

Depression Groups

  • Behavioral activation plan
  • Pleasure/mastery chart
  • Morning routine planner
  • Emotion wheel reflection

Anger Groups

  • Anger thermometer
  • Trigger → escalation → peak → cool down map
  • STOP skill worksheet

Relationships + Communication Groups

  • Boundary scripts
  • DEAR MAN
  • Conflict cycle map
  • Communication styles worksheet

8. How to Facilitate Worksheets in Groups (Script Included)

Use this Group Worksheet Script:

1. Introduce (30 seconds)

“This worksheet helps us explore today’s theme in a structured, safe way.”

2. Give the group 3–5 minutes to write

Silence is good — it increases depth of processing.

3. Prompt sharing (therapist chooses structure)

  • popcorn
  • go-around
  • paired share
  • volunteer-only

4. Reflect

“What stood out to you while writing?”
“What surprised you?”

5. Integrate

“How can we take this into the week?”

This flow transforms worksheets from “paper exercises” to therapeutic catalysts.

9. Common Mistakes in Group Worksheet Use

❌ Using worksheets that are too long or complex
❌ Asking for trauma details in a group setting
❌ Letting group members share too long
❌ Failing to contain emotional activation
❌ Not reviewing worksheets before moving on
❌ Assuming everyone writes at the same speed
❌ Making worksheets mandatory

Replace pressure with invitation:
“Take what’s helpful, leave what’s not.”

10. Where to Get High-Quality Group Therapy Worksheets

Best sources:

 

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