Dialectical behavior therapy / DBT-A19-2
Behavior Chain with a Missing Link — Practice worksheet
With a clinician, map a low-intensity event from vulnerabilities through thoughts, feelings, actions, and consequences; mark unknown links.
15 minutes · Worksheet · Adults; supported use as appropriate
Fictional example: Taylor delays a task after confusing instructions and then feels more overwhelmed.
Use an ordinary or fictional example, with a clinician when appropriate. A chain analysis explores sequence and context rather than assigning blame.
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
With a clinician, map a low-intensity event from vulnerabilities through thoughts, feelings, actions, and consequences; mark unknown links.
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
Where is a change or support point in the sequence? 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:
- Where is a change or support point in the sequence?
- 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.