Analyzing Emotions

Worksheet Description

The “Analyzing Emotions” worksheet is a structured exercise from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) designed to assist students in dissecting and understanding their emotional responses to certain events. It prompts students to think back to a recent occasion where they experienced a significant emotional reaction and to identify the primary emotion felt.

Students are encouraged to consider the precipitating event that triggered the emotion, any preceding vulnerability factors, their interpretation of the situation, and the physical cues in their face and body that accompanied the emotion. Additionally, they are asked to reflect on the impulses they felt, such as what they wanted to say or do, along with the facial expressions, postures, or gestures they exhibited. The worksheet also invites students to articulate what they actually said and did, as well as the aftereffects of the event. This process of emotional analysis is crucial in DBT as it helps students gain insight into their emotional patterns, leading to better emotional regulation and the development of effective coping strategies.