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From DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Second Edition  by Marsha M. Linehan. Copyright 2015 by Marsha M. Linehan. Permission 
to photocopy this handout is granted to purchasers of this book for personal use only (see copyright page for details).interpersonal effectiveness Handout 2a   (I. E. Worksheet 2)
myths in the Way of interpersonal e ffectiveness
myths in the Way of o bjectives e ffectiveness
 1. I don’t deserve to get what I want or need.
 2. If I make a request, this will show that I am a very weak person.
 3. I have to know whether a person is going to say yes before I make a request.
 4. If I ask for something or say no, I can’t stand it if someone gets upset with me.
 5. If they say no, it will kill me.
 6. Making requests is a really pushy (bad, self-  centered, selfish, etc.) thing to do.
 7. Saying no to a request is always a selfish thing to do.
 8. I should be willing to sacrifice my own needs for others.
 9. I must be really inadequate if I can’t fix this myself.
10. Obviously, the problem is just in my head. If I would just think differently I wouldn’t have to 
bother everybody else.
11. If I don’t have what I want or need, it doesn’t make any difference; I don’t care really.
12. Skillfulness is a sign of weakness.