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From DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Second Edition  by Marsha M. Linehan. Copyright 2015 by Marsha M. Linehan. Permis -
sion to photocopy this worksheet is granted to purchasers of this book for personal use only (see copyright page for details). Purchasers may 
download a larger version of this worksheet from www.guilford.com/dbt-  
worksheets .distress tolerance WorksHeet 7   (Distress Tolerance Handout 9)
improve the m oment
Due Date:       Name:                   Week Starting:  
Describe two crisis situations that happened to you. Then describe your use of the IMPROVE 
skills.
criSiS even T 1: Rate level of distress (0–100) Before:     After:    
prompting event  for my distress (who, what, when, where): What triggered the state of crisis?
imagery
meaning
prayer
relaxation
one thing
vacation
encouragementAt left, check the skills you used, and describe here:
Describe the outcome of using skills:
Circle a number to indicate how effective the skills were in helping you tolerate the distress and 
cope with the situation (keeping you from doing something to make the situation worse). Use the 
following scale:
I still couldn’t stand 
the situation, even 
for one more minute.I was able to cope somewhat, 
at least for a little while.  
It helped somewhat.I could use skills, 
tolerated distress, and 
resisted problem urges.
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