Assertive Communication Worksheet

Assertive communication skills are essential for clients learning how to express themselves. Teaching methods of healthy communication can aid in building confidence, boosting self-esteem, and promoting healthy relationships.

Assertive communication helps clients claim and express their feelings, needs, and boundaries by using a direct tone that is clear and respectful. It can also help clients learn conflict resolution skills and how to self-advocate.

About This Worksheet

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) offers DEARMAN as an exercise for building healthy interpersonal effectiveness skills. It can be useful when teaching clients methods of using assertive communication and building confidence.

The Assertive Communication worksheet provides an outline of how to use DEARMAN to build assertive communication skills. It provides a guide for how to use DEARMAN to build assertive communication skills. The Assertive Communication worksheet can be used with adults participating in DBT or who would like to learn assertive communication skills. It can be used in individual or group therapy sessions.

Instructions

Before assigning this worksheet, explore with the client how learning assertive communication skills can help them grow in therapy. Review the worksheet with the client, explaining how each component of DEARMAN can help with assertiveness. Space is provided for the client to take notes about their thoughts on what they want to express for each component.

Start a discussion with the client about how they can use the assertiveness skills on this worksheet to improve their approach to having difficult conversations. You may ask questions, like:

• What do you think is your biggest hurdle with using assertive communication skills?
• What skills on this worksheet stood out to you the most?
• What steps can we take to help you improve your assertive communication skills?

Encourage the client to take notes, record tips, set intentions, or outline a plan for applying the assertiveness skills in the spaces provided on the worksheet. They may also take note of personal reminders for their behavior and expectations. Give the client a copy of the worksheet at the end of the session to use as a reference.

References

Linehan, M. M. (2015). DBT skills training manual (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

Download Assertive Communication Worksheet