Dialectical behavior therapy / DBT-A11-1
Emotion Naming and Function — Concept brief
Understand the idea behind emotion naming and function and consider whether it fits your context.
8 minutes · Handout · Adults; supported use as appropriate
Fictional example: Taylor notices frustration after a boundary is ignored.
Use an ordinary or fictional example, with a clinician when appropriate. Emotions carry information while action choices require context.
The idea
Emotions carry information while action choices require context.
An ordinary example
Taylor notices frustration after a boundary is ignored.
What this can look like
Name a possible emotion, its cue, its urge, and the need or concern it may signal.
Check the fit
What is the emotion pointing toward, and what needs checking? You may disagree with the framing, use fiction, or decide that this approach is not useful today.
A useful distinction
Acceptance acknowledges the present; it does not endorse harm or remove the need for change.
Prompts for this resource
- What part of this idea makes sense to me?
- What is the emotion pointing toward, and what needs checking?
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.