What is Coping Skills Log?
Coping skills work in CBT and DBT—forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy. DBT was originally developed in the 1980s by Marsha Linehan for chronically suicidal individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, though it has since been adapted to treat many other psychological problems. CBT coping skills focus on changing unhelpful thinking patterns, modifying maladaptive behaviors, and promoting emotional regulation.
The Coping Skills Log has two pages. On the first, a client records the situation where they used a coping skill, their thoughts and emotion intensity before using it, and their emotion intensity after. The second page lists common coping skills—box breathing, the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method, progressive muscle relaxation, thought defusion, emotional expression, and urge surfing—so a therapist and client can identify which skills to practice together.
How therapists use it
Introduce the log after a client has learned one or more coping skills in session. Ask them to use it each time they practice a skill between sessions. Once an intervention plan has been developed, self-monitoring can be used to track the plan's implementation away from therapy sessions, such as monitoring the frequency and success with which a new adaptive coping strategy is used. In the next session, review the log together. Clients are more likely to change their underlying beliefs based on data they have gathered themselves, rather than information asserted by a therapist. Additionally, examining this data together encourages therapists and clients to avoid relying on faulty assumptions or preconceived notions, and work collaboratively.
Who it's for
CBT commonly helps manage mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. The log suits clients who have learned specific coping skills and are ready to practice them between sessions. It works best for clients who can tolerate structured self-reflection and who benefit from seeing concrete evidence of change. The log does not suit clients in acute crisis, those unable to write or use a worksheet format, or those who find tracking their emotions distressing rather than clarifying.
What clients see
The client records the situation where they used a coping skill, rates their emotion intensity before and after on a scale, and notes their thoughts. They can refer to a list of common coping skills to identify which one they used. The log is designed for between-sessions practice, not for use during the session itself.
Modality fit
Coping skills in CBT target unhelpful thinking patterns and maladaptive behaviors to promote emotional regulation in anxiety and depression.
Coping skills in DBT include distress tolerance and emotion regulation techniques to help clients manage intense emotions and develop adaptive responses.
Sources
- (2023). Coping Skills Log. Therapist Aid LLC Link
Common questions
When should I assign this log?
Assign it after a client has learned one or more coping skills in session and is ready to practice them between sessions. It works best when the client has a specific skill to track, not as a general emotion log.
What if my client doesn't complete the log?
Incomplete logs are data too. They may signal that the skill is hard to remember, the log format is burdensome, or the client is not yet ready to practice. Use this as a starting point for problem-solving in session.
Can I use this log for multiple coping skills at once?
Yes. A client can track different skills on different days, or the same skill used in different situations. The log is flexible enough to capture whatever coping practice you want to monitor.
How do I use the data from the log in session?
Review the emotion intensity ratings to see whether the skill had an effect. Discuss what situations triggered skill use, what thoughts appeared, and whether the client noticed any patterns. Use this to refine which skills to practice next.