Dialectical behavior therapy / DBT-A08-2
Sensory Soothing by Preference — Practice worksheet
Compare optional sights, sounds, textures, scents, or non-sensory alternatives; exclude any unwanted option.
15 minutes · Worksheet · Adults; supported use as appropriate
Fictional example: Taylor finds scented products unpleasant but likes a familiar sound.
Use an ordinary or fictional example, with a clinician when appropriate. Sensory strategies are personal and may not be accessible or soothing for everyone.
1. Choose a workable example
Use the fictional example below or an ordinary situation of your choosing. Keep identifying details out of shared copies.
2. Try the practice
Compare optional sights, sounds, textures, scents, or non-sensory alternatives; exclude any unwanted option.
3. Compare possibilities
Generate at least two interpretations or options. Mark what you know, what you are guessing, and what remains outside your control.
4. Decide together
What preference should the plan respect? Choose one small action, a support request, or no action. Review the fit with your clinician when relevant.
Prompts for this resource
- My chosen or fictional situation, and what I know about it:
- My response to the practice task above:
- What preference should the plan respect?
- An optional next step, support, adaptation, or reason to stop:
Conceptual background
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training: Fundamentals — Behavioral Tech Institute
Background on the approach only. Original exercises and wording are by More Than Therapy with AI assistance; the source does not validate or endorse these materials.