Category: Resources

50 Free Marriage & Relationship Assessment Tools

A list of over 50 free marriage and relationship assessment tools to use with couples in marriage and family counseling.

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(Updated 8/29/22) This is a list of free marriage and relationship assessment tools to use with couples in marriage and family counseling for assessing relationship satisfaction/expectations, attachment styles, communication, domestic violence/sex addiction, and more.

marriage
Image by bporbs from Pixabay

See Free Online Screening & Assessment Tools for additional screening tools.

Marriage & Relationship Assessment Tools

Relationship Assessment Tools for Satisfaction & Expectations

Attachment Styles

Communication

Domestic Violence & Sex Addiction

  • Danger Assessment Screening Tool | Clinicians can download a PDF version of this assessment, which helps predict the level of danger in an abusive relationship; this screening tool was developed to predict violence and homicide.
  • Domestic Violence Assessment Tools | Five relationship assessments from the Domestic Shelters site
  • Domestic Violence Screening Quiz | Interactive test from PsychCentral to determine if you’re involved in a dangerous abusive relationship
  • Sexual Addiction Quiz | A brief screening measure from PsychCentral to help you determine if you are struggling with sexual addiction

Additional Relationship Assessment Tools

relationship assessment

200 Free Printable Workbooks, Manuals, & Self-Help Guides: Children, Adolescents, & Families

A list of over 200 free printable workbooks, manuals, toolkits, and self-help guides for children, adolescents, and families.

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(Updated 8/21/22) This is a list of over 200 free printable workbooks, manuals, toolkits, and self-help guides for children, adolescents, and families. This post is divided into two sections: printable workbooks and resources for providers and printable workbooks and resources for families.

family
Image by Brad Dorsey from Pixabay

Please repost this and/or share with anyone you think could benefit from these free printable workbooks, guides, and other resources!

For additional resources for youth and family, see Sites with Free Therapy Worksheets & Handouts and Social Work Toolbox. For additional printable workbooks and guides, see 500 Free Printable Workbooks & Manuals for Therapists.

200+ Free Printable Workbooks, Manuals, & Toolkits: Children, Adolescents, & Families

Disclaimer: Links are provided for informational and educational purposes. I recommend reviewing each resource before using for updated copyright protections that may have changed since it was posted here. When in doubt, contact the author(s).

FOR PROVIDERS

Printable Workbooks & Treatment Manuals/Curriculums

Printable Workbooks for Mood & Anxiety Disorders
Printable Workbooks for Substance Use Disorders
Printable Workbooks for Trauma, Personality, & Related Disorders
Printable Workbooks for Anger
Printable Workbooks for Self-Esteem
Printable Workbooks for Communication, Relationships, & Sexuality
LGBTQ+ Youth
Latinix Youth

Group Counseling Resources

Toolkits & Guides

FOR YOUTH & FAMILIES

Printable Workbooks For Children & Adolescents

Toolkits & Guides

For Parents & Caregivers
For Youth & Adolescents

Please contact me if a link isn’t working or if you’d like to suggest a resource for free printable workbooks or tools for children, youth, and families!

free printable workbooks

38 Unconventional Coping Strategies

A list of uncommon strategies for coping with stress, depression, and anxiety. Includes a free PDF version of the list to print and use as a handout.

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Image by Daniel Sampaio Donate if you want (Paypal) from Pixabay

Effective coping skills make it possible to survive life’s stressors, obstacles, and hardships. Without coping strategies, life would be unmanageable. Dr. Constance Scharff described coping mechanisms as “skills we… have that allow us to make sense of our negative experiences and integrate them into a healthy, sustainable perspective of the world.” Healthy coping strategies promote resilience when experiencing minor stressors, such as getting a poor performance review at work, or major ones, such as the loss of a loved one.

Like any skill, coping is important to practice on a regular basis in order to be effective. Do this by maintaining daily self-care (at a minimum: adequate rest, healthy meals, exercise, staying hydrated, and avoiding drugs/alcohol.)

As an expert on you (and how you adapt to stressful situations), you may already know what helps the most when life seems out-of-control. (I like reading paranormal romance/fantasy-type books!) Maybe you meditate or run or rap along to loud rap music or have snuggle time with the cats or binge watch your favorite show on Netflix. Having insight into/awareness of your coping strategies primes you for unforeseeable tragedies in life.

“Life is not what it’s supposed to be. It’s what it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.”

Virginia Satir, Therapist (June 26, 2019-September 10, 1988)

Healthy coping varies greatly from person to person; what matters is that your personal strategies work for you. For example, one person may find prayer helpful, but for someone who isn’t religious, prayer might be ineffective. Instead, they may swim laps at the gym when going through a difficult time. Another person may cope by crying and talking it out with a close friend.

Image by Victor Vote from Pixabay

Note: there are various mental health treatment approaches (i.e. DBT, trauma-focused CBT, etc.) that incorporate specialized, evidence-based coping techniques that are proven to work (by reducing symptoms and improving wellbeing) for certain disorders. The focus of this post is basic coping, not treatment interventions.

On the topic of coping skills, the research literature is vast (and beyond the scope of this post). While many factors influence coping (i.e. personality/temperament, stressors experienced, mental and physical health, etc.), evidence backs the following methods: problem-solving techniques, mindfulness/meditation, exercise, relaxation techniques, reframing, acceptance, humor, seeking support, and religion/spirituality. (Note that venting is not on the list!) Emotional intelligence may also play a role in the efficiency of coping skills.

Current Research

In 2011, researchers found that positive reframes, acceptance, and humor were the most effective copings skills for students dealing with small setbacks. The effect of humor as a positive coping skill has been found in prior studies, several of which focused on coping skills in the workplace.

A sport psychology study indicated that professional golfers who used positive self-talk, blocked negative thoughts, maintained focus, and remained in a relaxed state effectively coped with stress, keeping a positive mindset. Effective copers also sought advice as needed throughout the game. A 2015 study suggested that helping others, even strangers, helps mitigate the impact of stress.

Examples of coping skills include prayer, meditation, deep breathing, exercise, talking to a trusted person, journaling, cleaning, and creating art. However, the purpose of this post is to provide coping alternatives. Maybe meditation isn’t your thing or journaling leaves you feeling like crap. Coping is not one-size-fits-all. The best approach to coping is to find and try lots of different things!

Image by Amanda Oliveira from Pixabay

The inspiration for this post came from Facebook. (Facebook is awesome for networking! I’m a member of several professional groups.) Lauren Mills sought ideas for unconventional strategies via Facebook… With permission, I’m sharing some of them here!    

Unconventional Coping Strategies

  1. Crack pistachio nuts
  2. Fold warm towels
  3. Smell your dog (Fun fact: dog paws smell like corn chips!) or watch them sleep
  4. Peel dried glue off your hands
  5. Break glass at the recycling center
  6. Pop bubble wrap
  7. Lie upside down
  8. Watch slime or pimple popping videos on YouTube
  9. Sort and build Lego’s
  10. Write in cursive
  11. Observe fish in an aquarium
  12. Twirl/spin around
  13. Solve math problems (by hand)
  14. Use a voice-changing app (Snapchat works too) to repeat back your worry/critical thoughts in the voice of a silly character OR sing your worries/thoughts aloud to the tune of “Happy Birthday”
  15. Listen to the radio in foreign languages
  16. Chop vegetables
  17. Go for a joy ride (Windows down!)
  18. Watch YouTube videos of cute animals and/or giggling babies
  19. Blow bubbles
  20. Walk barefoot outside
  21. Draw/paint on your skin
  22. Play with (dry) rice
  23. Do (secret) “random acts of kindness”
  24. Play with warm (not hot) candle wax
  25. Watch AMSR videos on YouTube
  26. Shuffle cards
  27. Recite family recipes
  28. Find the nicest smelling flowers at a grocery store
  29. Count things
  30. Use an app to try different hairstyles and/or makeup
  31. People-watch with a good friend and make up stories about everyone you see (Take it to the next level with voiceovers!)
  32. Wash your face mindfully
  33. Buy a karaoke machine and sing your heart out when you’re home alone
  34. On Instagram, watch videos of a hydraulic press smash things, cake decorating, pottery/ceramics throwing, hand lettering, and/or woodwork
  35. Shine tarnished silver
  36. Create a glitter jar and enjoy
  37. Tend to plants
  38. Color in a vulgar coloring book for adults
Image by A_Different_Perspective from Pixabay

Click below for a PDF version of “Unconventional Coping Strategies.” This handout can be printed, copied, and shared without the author’s permission, providing it’s not used for monetary gain.

Unconventional Coping Strategies

  • Cassie Jewell, M.Ed., LPC, LSATP
  • With Lauren Mills, MA, LPC-Intern (Contributor)
  • Lauren Mills, MA, LPC-Intern (Supervised by Mary Ann Satori, LPC-S) is a therapist in Texas and a current resident in counseling.     

I’d like to acknowledge all members of Therapist Toolbox – Resources & Support for Therapists who submitted ideas!

If you have an uncommon coping skill, post in a comment!

coping strategies

350 Creative Ideas for Hobbies

Discover a new hobby with this diverse list of assorted leisure activities, which range from beekeeping to Kombucha brewing to knife throwing to ghost hunting.

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I developed this list as part of a project I was working on and thought it would be worth sharing. (Click below for a PDF version of this list.)

PDF: List Of Hobbies

350 Ideas for Hobbies

Jump to a section:

Animals & Nature Hobbies

  1. Attend pet shows (or horse shows)
  2. Beachcombing
  3. Beekeeping
  4. Berry or apple picking
  5. Bird watching
  6. Butterfly garden (Visit one or create your own!)
  7. Butterfly watching
  8. Be a plant parent; nurture and care for indoor plants
  9. Composting
  10. Dog training
  11. Dog walking
  12. Forest bathing
  13. Fossil hunting
  14. Grow and tend to a fruit tree
  15. Grow an indoor herb garden
  16. Grow plants from seedlings (and plant outside when in-season)
  17. Hang humming bird feeders and then sit back and enjoy the company!
  18. Horseback riding
  19. Become an expert at identifying various plants and/or insects
  20. Mushroom hunting
  21. Nature walks
  22. Adopt a pet
  23. Pet fostering
  24. Pet sitting
  25. Plant a flower bed
  26. Go on a swamp tour
  27. Tend to a vegetable garden
  28. Topiary
  29. Visit a farm
  30. Visit an aquarium
  31. Go to zoos and/or nature centers
  32. Watch wildlife on Animal Planet
  33. Go whale watching

🔝

Arts & Crafts

  1. Drawing
  2. Candle making
  3. Collage making
  4. Coloring
  5. Crocheting
  6. Design your own greeting cards or stationary
  7. Flower arranging
  8. Foraging
  9. Glassblowing
  10. Jewelry making
  11. Knitting
  12. Lettering/calligraphy
  13. Mixed media art
  14. Mosaic making
  15. Origami
  16. Painting (watercolor, oils, acrylics, etc.)
  17. Paper crafts (including paper mâché)
  18. Photography
  19. Pressed flower craft
  20. Pottery
  21. Quilting
  22. Resin crafts
  23. Rock tumbling
  24. Scrapbooking
  25. Sculpting
  26. Sewing
  27. Sketching
  28. Soap making
  29. Weaving
  30. Wood carving

🔝

Collection Hobbies

  1. Action figures
  2. Antiques
  3. Autographs
  4. Barbies™
  5. Books (classics, signed copies, etc.)
  6. Bookmarks
  7. Christmas tree ornaments
  8. Comics
  9. Fun socks
  10. Hot sauce from around the world
  11. Keychains
  12. Magnets
  13. Movie or music memorabilia
  14. Obsolete tech (i.e. outdated cell phones, tape players, etc.)
  15. Original artwork
  16. Plates
  17. Purses, shoes, and other accessories
  18. Recipes
  19. Records
  20. Retro video games
  21. Rocks and/or crystals
  22. Shells
  23. Souvenirs
  24. Sports memorabilia
  25. Stickers
  26. Ticket stubs
  27. Toys
  28. Vases
  29. Vintage items

🔝

Cooking & Baking

  1. Baking
  2. Braising
  3. Bread making
  4. Cake decorating
  5. Canning
  6. Cheese making
  7. Coffee roasting
  8. Cookie decorating
  9. Grilling and BBQ
  10. Hosting dinner parties
  11. Kombucha brewing
  12. Learn ethnic and regional recipes
  13. Learn recipes from cooking shows
  14. Make “fun foods” for kids
  15. Make homemade ice cream
  16. Make jam or jelly
  17. Make your own beef (or vegan!) jerky
  18. Participate in competitive food festivals (or just go and enjoy the food!)
  19. Pasta making
  20. Pastry and confection making
  21. Pickling
  22. Pie making
  23. Raw diet meals
  24. Recreate menu items from your favorite restaurants
  25. Reduced fat cooking
  26. Sautéing
  27. Slow cooker meals
  28. Smoothie making
  29. Soup, sauce, and stock making
  30. Sushi making
  31. Take a cooking class
  32. Tea brewing
  33. Try new recipes on a regular basis
  34. Use an air fryer
  35. Use a dehydrator
  36. Use Pinterest for inspiration
  37. Vegan cooking
  38. Watch Food Network for inspiration

🔝

Entertainment

  1. Attend movies, operas, plays, and musicals
  2. Bingo
  3. Board games and/or party games
  4. Card games
  5. Chess
  6. Strategy games
  7. Dine out at new restaurants
  8. Escape rooms
  9. Gaming
  10. Go to museums
  11. Go to poetry slams or open mic nights
  12. Jigsaw puzzles
  13. Karaoke
  14. Murder mystery shows
  15. Rage rooms
  16. Read entertainment/celebrity magazines
  17. See your favorite bands/artists perform live
  18. Standup comedy
  19. Theme parks
  20. Watch your favorite Netflix series, but make sure you become overly invested (borderline obsessed) with the storyline and characters in order for this to qualify as a legit hobby

🔝

Home Improvement & DIY

  1. Add a backsplash to your kitchen
  2. Bathroom remodel
  3. Build a shed
  4. Build furniture
  5. Design a meditation room, home office, “man cave,” or “she shed”
  6. DIY headboard
  7. Fireplace makeover
  8. Hanging shelves
  9. Home organization
  10. Install smart home technology
  11. Kitchen remodel
  12. Paint an accent wall or update your entire home
  13. Paint old cabinets
  14. Redecorate a room
  15. Stencil or wallpaper
  16. Update a closet
  17. Update furniture
  18. Update lighting
  19. Use chalk paint or metallic spray paint

🔝

Literature, Music, & Dance

  1. Acting
  2. Visit art galleries
  3. Attend literary fests
  4. Ballroom dancing
  5. Belly dancing
  6. Blogging/guest blogging
  7. Break dancing
  8. Editing
  9. Go to book signings
  10. Go to the library
  11. Join a book club (either in-person or online, e.g., Goodreads)
  12. Listen to music
  13. Play/learn an instrument
  14. Puppeteering
  15. Rapping
  16. Reading
  17. Sell your art on Etsy
  18. Singing
  19. Song writing
  20. Submit articles/opinion pieces/essays to magazines and newspapers
  21. Swing dancing
  22. Take a dance class
  23. Take a drama or improv class
  24. Take voice lessons
  25. Wikipedia editing
  26. Write a book
  27. Write poetry
  28. Write short stories

🔝

Outdoor & Adventure

  1. ATV-ing
  2. Backpacking
  3. Boating
  4. Bouldering
  5. Bungee jumping
  6. Camping
  7. Canoeing
  8. Caving
  9. Cornhole
  10. Drone piloting
  11. Fishing
  12. Geocaching
  13. Go-Karting
  14. Hammocking
  15. Hiking
  16. Hot air ballooning
  17. Jump roping
  18. Kayaking
  19. Mountain biking
  20. Mountain climbing
  21. Obstacle courses
  22. Oversized lawn games
  23. Paddle boarding
  24. Parasailing
  25. Peak bagging
  26. Rocking climbing
  27. Sailing
  28. Scuba diving
  29. Skiing
  30. Skydiving
  31. Snorkeling
  32. Snowboarding
  33. Snowmobiling
  34. Snowshoeing
  35. Star gazing
  36. Stone skipping
  37. Trail running
  38. Tree climbing
  39. Waterskiing
  40. White water rafting
  41. Wilderness survival
  42. Zorbing

🔝

Self-Improvement & Social Hobbies

  1. Advocate for a cause
  2. Attend support groups/meetings
  3. Attend workshops/conventions
  4. Bullet journaling
  5. Daily positive affirmations and/or self-reflection
  6. Join a club
  7. Join a gym
  8. Join a Meetup group
  9. Join a political campaign
  10. Journaling
  11. Keep a gratitude journal
  12. Listen to podcasts
  13. Make a vision board and update it regularly
  14. Meditation
  15. Read research
  16. Read self-improvement books
  17. Social media
  18. Stretching
  19. Take a class (i.e., a foreign language, computer class, etc.)
  20. Use a habit tracker app
  21. Volunteer
  22. Watch documentaries
  23. Watch inspirational Ted Talks
  24. Wear a fitness tracker
  25. Yoga
  26. Yoga with baby goats

🔝

Competitive Sports

  1. Archery
  2. Badminton 
  3. Baseball
  4. Basketball
  5. Biking
  6. Body building
  7. Bowling
  8. Boxing
  9. Cricket
  10. Darts
  11. Disc golf/frisbee
  12. Fencing
  13. Fitbit step challenges
  14. Football/flag football
  15. Golf
  16. Gymnastics
  17. Hockey
  18. Hot dog eating
  19. Ice skating
  20. Jogging/running
  21. Knife throwing
  22. Lacrosse
  23. Laser tag
  24. Log rolling
  25. Martial arts
  26. Paintball
  27. Poker
  28. Racquetball
  29. Racing
  30. Roller derby
  31. Rugby
  32. Skateboarding
  33. Soccer
  34. Speed walking
  35. Surfing/body boarding
  36. Swimming
  37. Table football
  38. Table tennis
  39. Tennis
  40. Thai Chi
  41. UFC fighting
  42. Underwater rugby
  43. Volleyball
  44. Weightlifting
  45. Wheelbarrow racing
  46. Wrestling

🔝

Travel

  1. Alaskan cruise
  2. All-inclusive resorts
  3. Antarctic cruise
  4. Around-the-world cruise
  5. Beach vacations
  6. Caribbean cruise
  7. Cross-country train trip
  8. Explore your home town and other nearby place as though you’re a tourist
  9. Guided group tours
  10. Mediterranean cruise
  11. River cruise
  12. Road trip
  13. See the Northern Lights
  14. Transatlantic cruise
  15. Travel to all the continents in the world
  16. Travel to all 50 states in America
  17. Trip to Las Vegas
  18. Visit the Grand Canyon
  19. Visit the New Seven Wonders of the World
  20. Visit the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World
  21. Go on city walking tours

🔝

Miscellaneous Hobbies

  1. Astrology/astronomy
  2. Billiards
  3. Couponing
  4. Creating DIY home products
  5. Fantasy sports
  6. Genealogy
  7. Ghost hunting
  8. Hair styling/braiding
  9. Hula hooping
  10. Juggling
  11. Keeping up with the latest fashions
  12. Kite flying
  13. Learning magic tricks
  14. Makeup application
  15. Metal detecting
  16. Model building
  17. People watching
  18. Pumpkin chucking
  19. Storage unit auctions
  20. Sunbathing
  21. Unicycle riding
  22. Yard sale shopping/thrifting

🔝

hobbies

Sources:

20 Professional Development Ideas for Counselors

20 professional development ideas for counselors, social workers, and other mental health specialists

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Professional development encompasses all activities that provide or strengthen professional knowledge/skills.

Ongoing professional development is a requirement for mental health practitioners in order to maintain competency and for keeping up-to-date on the latest research and evidence-based practices in an ever-changing field.

This is a list of ideas for counselor professional development.

Professional Development for Counselors

1. Find a mentor (and meet with them regularly). A mentor can provide guidance and support. They’ll help you grow by sharing their own experiences and expertise. A mentor can also help by talking through challenges and helping you to stay motivated when you’re discouraged.

2. Sign up for relevant e-mail lists. This is a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest research, treatments, training opportunities, and resources in the counseling field.

Here are a few email lists that I find informative and helpful for professional development:

3. Become a member of a professional organization (e.g., American Counseling Association). This provides opportunities for advocacy and for networking. Membership benefits may also include free CE trainings or subscriptions to professional journals.

4. Keep up-to-date on the latest research. If you are a member of a professional organization, take advantage of your member benefits, which may include access to professional journals. You can also browse sites like ScienceDaily or use an app like Researcher.

5. Facilitate professional trainings or manage a booth at a conference. Share your professional knowledge with others by leading a training or hosting a webinar. Alternatively, consider offering to help manage your agency’s booth at a professional convention.

6. Read counseling and psychology books (such as On Being a Therapist by Kottler or Mindsight by Siegel). Reading up on relevant topics in the field will help to ensure that you’re using effective and evidence-based treatments in your practice. Reading can be especially helpful to the new counselor who struggles with imposter syndrome or questions their abilities. Psychology books can also help counselors deepen their understanding of the human mind and behavior.

7. Practice self-awareness. Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand one’s own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It helps you to know your values, limitations, and personal biases as well. Self-awareness is important for recognizing how your own “stuff” may impact your work with clients. It may also help you to build stronger relationships. What’s more, by being self-aware, you can identify the early signs of burnout and take steps to prevent it.

8. Become familiar with local resources in your community. By learning about the available resources in the community, you’ll be better able to assist your clients with some of their case management needs.

9. Volunteer. Help out at a homeless shelter or a local food bank, pick up trash in your neighborhood, or visit with residents at a nursing home. If you have a special skill such as knitting or baking, consider using your talents to help others.

10. Join a professional counseling forum and participate in discussions. The ACA has several. You could also go the reddit route (i.e. r/psychotherapy).

11. Review your professional code of ethics on a regular basis. (Here’s the code for professional counselors: ACA Code.)

12. Attend webinars, trainings, and conferences. Stay informed by subscribing to email lists, participating in professional forums, and searching Eventbrite for local events for professional development. (For Eventbrite, enter “mental health” in the search box.) PESI is another resource for professional development, but the seminars can be costly.

13. Network/consult. Make it a point to network with other professionals that you meet at work or professional conferences.

14. Subscribe to psychology magazines like Psychology Today or Psychotherapy Networker. Reading about relevant topics in the field will help you to stay sharp.

15. Further your education by taking classes or earning a certificate. Consider specializing in something or enhancing your skillset.

16. Pick a different counseling skill (such as reflecting meaning or the ’empty chair’ technique) to strengthen each week. (You can even use flashcards to pick a new skill or simply review!)

17. Write an article or book (or book review!) If you’re gifted at writing, share your expertise with others by publishing an original work. If a writing a book or article is too much of an undertaking, consider writing book reviews or reviewing products online.

18. Take free online courses. There are plenty of sites and institutions that offer free classes. Take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your professional knowledge or learn new skills.

19. Listen to podcasts (like Therapy Chat or Counselor Toolbox). If you prefer listening over reading, podcasts are a highly convenient way to grow professionally.

20. Practice self-care on a regular basis to prevent burnout. Why is self-care included in a post on professional development? Because self-care is crucial for counselor wellness. A counselor experiencing burnout may even put their clients at risk. Self-care is essential for professional development.

professional development

15 Sites with Helpful Resource Lists

(Updated 5/4/20) A list with links to other sites’ resource pages

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This is a list of links to resource pages for wellness, mental illness, addiction, and self-help. (For resources posted on Mind ReMake Project, click here.)

15 Sites with Helpful Resource Lists

Community Resources (ADAA) | From the Anxiety and Depression Association of America

DISCOVER AND RECOVER: Resources for Mental and Overall Wellness | A blog with tons of resources

Expert Resources from JED and Others | Resources for teens and young adults

Find Resources (CADCA) | An extensive searchable resource list from CADCA (for substance use disorder-related resources)

Free Mental Health Resources | A list compiled by blogger Blake Flannery (last updated 2015)

Links (Sidran Institute) | From the Sidran Institute

Links to Other Empowering Websites | From the National Empowerment Center

Mental Health and Psychology Resources Online | A list of online resources from PsychCentral

Mental Health Resources for Therapists and Clients | From the blog: Info Counselling – Evidence based therapy techniques. Compiled/last updated 2017.

Mental Health Resources List | A fairly comprehensive list. Updated 2018.

Resources | Resources for child sexual abuse

Resources (Veto Violence) | A searchable resource database from Veto Violence (a CDC organization)

Self-Injury and Recovery Research and Resources | Resources for those who self-injure, their loved ones, students, and health professionals

Sites We Like | From S.A.F.E. Alternatives – Resources related to self-harm

Veteran Resources | A resource list from Lifeline for Vets (National Veterans Foundation)

Post your suggestions for resource links in a comment!

resource lists

60 Awesome Resources for Therapists

60+ resources for therapists including book recommendations and links to free worksheets, assessments, and other tools

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A list of over 60 resources for therapists. Please share with mental health professionals who could benefit!

If you have a suggestion, use the contact form on this site.

60+ Resources for Therapists

Disclaimer: Some posts contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

Suggested Books

Armstrong, C. (2015). The Therapeutic “Aha!” Strategies for Getting Your Clients Unstuck.

therapeutic aha

Belmont, J. (2015). The Therapist’s Ultimate Solution Book.

therapist's ultimate solution book

Buchalter, S. I. (2017). 250 Brief, Creative & Practical Art Therapy Techniques: A Guide for Clinicians and Clients.

250 art therapy techniques

Rosenglen, D. B. (2018). Building Motivational Interviewing Skills: A Practitioner Workbook, 2nd ed.

building motivational interviewing skills workbook

Websites & Blogs

Handouts & Worksheets

Social Media Groups & Forums

resources for therapists

80 Powerful 12-Step Groups for Recovery

(Updated 5/15/21) 12-step recovery groups, while not a substitute for treatment, can play a crucial role in recovery and continued sobriety. AA/NA (and similar) meetings are available all over the world and are open to anyone with a desire to stop using or drinking.

12-Step Recovery Groups

The following list is comprised of links to both well-known and less-familiar 12-step and similar support groups for recovery.

Support Groups for Addiction

For Families & Others Impacted by Addiction & Mental Illness

Secular Alternatives

Faith-Based Alternatives

Additional Support Groups & Organizations

AA Sites for agnostics and atheists: AA Agnostica and AA Beyond Belief

Do you know of a 12-step support group not listed here? Share in a comment!

12-step

Click below for a downloadable PDF version of this post.

12-STEP RECOVERY GROUPS

75+ Free Mental Health Worksheets & Handouts

75+ free mental health worksheets, handouts, and forms for mental health professionals or self-help.

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(Updated 2/13/24) This is a list of nearly 100 mental health worksheets, handouts, forms, and more for substance use, mental health, and wellness.

Please repost and share with anyone who might benefit! New resources are added on a regular basis.

For more free downloads, click here for a list of PDF workbooks, manuals, and self-help guides.

For free mental health worksheets and resources from other sites, check out TherapistAid, GetSelfHelpUK, and Taking the Escalator.

Mental Health Worksheets & Handouts

Group Ideas & Topics

15 Tips for Dealing with Challenges in Groupdownload

A 3-page handout for group facilitators with strategies for managing resistance, disruptive behaviors, and a lack of engagement in group therapy.


101 Group Topicsdownload

A list of topics for substance use groups.


Discussion Questions for Multifamily Groupsdownload

A 2-page handout for clinicians who facilitate group therapy with (adult) clients and their families. The questions were developed for an inpatient SUD setting.


Discussion Topics for Substance Use Groupsdownload

A list of specific topics for substance use groups, such as refusal skills, the difference between a lapse and a relapse, and fun in recovery.


Group Check-In Ideasdownload

A list of group openers for substance use groups; can also be used in individual counseling sessions.


Questions to Explore Values-Ideas-Beliefsdownload

A list of questions for exploring the following topics: Conversation starters, mental health, addiction, personal development, values, family, relationships, and emotions. These questions can be used in a group setting, individually, or as journal prompts.

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Group Activities

5-Minute Autobiographydownload

A worksheet with prompts for writing a short autobiography to be presented to the group.

Intended audience: Adults


Affirmations Activitydownload

A worksheet for clients to pass around to group members so each person can write a positive affirmation.

Intended audience: Adolescents, Teens, Adults


First Impressions download

Good for newly formed groups. Each group member writes down their “first impression” of other group members. The facilitator then reads off the different categories and group members have the opportunity to share their answers.

Intended audience: Adults

People Searchdownload

An icebreaker activity, good for new groups. Give group members 15-20 minutes to collect signatures. The first person to collect all signatures wins.

Intended audience: Adolescents, Teens, Adults

Clinical Film Discussion Questions

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Card Decks


Coping Cards-128 Coping Skillsdownload

A printable deck of cards with 128 coping skills for managing stress, anxiety, and other difficult emotions. Each card includes one simple coping skill.


Icebreaker Question Cardsdownload

Print/cut the cards, fold, and place in a container. Group members take turns drawing the cards and answering the questions.


Inspirational Quote Affirmation Cardsdownload

A printable deck of cards with 40 positive quotes that can be used as affirmations.

Positive Affirmation Cardsdownload

A printable card deck with 27 affirmations for healing and empowerment.


Recovery Question Cardsdownload

These cards can be used in a SUD inpatient or outpatient setting to facilitate group discussions about recovery. Group members take turns drawing a card and answering questions. The facilitator can vary things up by letting group members pick someone else to answer their question once they’ve finished sharing. Alternatively, group members can take turns drawing cards, but all group members are encouraged to share their answers. This activity works best with a working group.


Recovery Cards-REVISEDdownload

This is a revised version of the Recovery Question Cards.

Rumi Quote Cards
🆕 Rumi Quote CardsDownload

25 cards with Rumi quotes on love, suffering, and healing.


Self-Discovery Cardsdownload

A card deck with 104 cards with thought-provoking questions intended to promote discussion. Topics include goals, values, emotions, relationships, spirituality, and more.

These cards can be used in a group or individual setting. The last page of the PDF includes additional values exercises for journaling, clinical supervision, couples, and groups. Tip: Print the cards on patterned scrapbook paper (blank on one side).

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Mental Health Handouts

4 Ways to Stay Calm Before a Stressful Event
🆕 4 Ways to Stay Calm Before a Stressful Eventdownload

A 1-page handout with simple “in-the-moment” calming strategies for anxiety-provoking events.

6 Basic Emotionsdownload

A simple 1-page handout that shows the 6 basic emotions.


12-Step Recovery Groupsdownload

A comprehensive list of 12-step and other support groups, such as AA, NA, SMART Recovery, Dual Recovery Anonymous, NAMI, etc.


25 Examples of Dialecticsdownload

A 1-page DBT-based handout with 25 examples of dialectics (i.e., two things that seem opposite and are at the same time both true).


25 Journal Prompts for Self-Discoverydownload

These journal prompts can also be used in a group setting. The prompts include questions about values, potential, expectations, and more.

Instructions for Living from the Dalai Lama
🆕 Instructions for Living from the Dalai Lamadownload

A 1-page handout with 25 quotes from the Dalai Lama on topics such as kindness and happiness. Can be used in a group setting.


Grief Misconceptionsdownload

A 1-page handout that debunks five common grief myths and provides the truth about each one.


Healing Griefdownload

A 2-page handout with nine creative and soothing outlets for grief, such as music, dance, light therapy, and aromatherapy.


Journal Prompts (from The Sober Survival Guide)download

A 2-page handout with journal prompts for recovery, based on material from The Sober Survival Guide (created with the author’s permission).

Kindness To-Do List
🆕 Kindness To-Do Listdownload

A to-do list of kind deeds with blank spaces to write in your own ideas for spreading kindness.


List of Hobbiesdownload

A colorful 3-page handout with ideas for hobbies that fall under the following categories: Animals/nature, arts/crafts, collections, cooking/baking, entertainment, home improvement/DIY, outdoor/adventure, self-improvement, sports, travel, and misc.


Online Grief Supportdownload

A list with links to online grief support groups, forums, and communities.


Post-Traumatic Growthdownload

A 1-page handout on PTG and how it may impact a person’s life, and the factors that contribute to PTG.


Resources for Suicide Prevention & Recoverydownload

A 1-page handout with resources for suicide, including recommended books, apps, crisis lines, and suicide warning signs.


Uncommon Grief Experiencesdownload

A 2-page handout that describes seven uncommon grief experiences, such as delayed or disenfranchised grief.


Unconventional Coping Skillsdownload

A list of 38 unique coping skills for managing difficult emotions.


Values Listdownload

A 2-page handout that lists values. Can be used as a standalone handout or with the values card deck.


Workout Plans-Beginner & Intermediatedownload

A 2-page handout with two exercise routines, one designed for beginners and the other for more advanced exercisers.

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Mental Health Worksheets


6 Dimensions of Gratitudedownload

A 1-page worksheet for identifying things to be grateful for in different life areas.


30-Day Random-Acts-of-Kindness Challengedownload

A 1-page checklist with 30 ideas for spreading kindness.


Am I a Good Friend?download

A 1-page worksheet for exploring what makes someone a good friend.

Art Activity: H-T-P Test

🆕 Art Activity-H-T-P Testdownload

In the House-Tree-Person Test, the picture of the house is supposed to represent how the individual feels about their family. The tree elicits feelings of strength or weakness. The person represents how the individual feels about themselves. (Source: How Projective Tests Are Used to Measure Personality – Simply Psychology)

Art Activity: Outer & Inner Masks
🆕 Art Activity-Outer & Inner Masksdownload

This art activity can be done in a group setting or individually. Clients design both outer – what the world sees – and inner – the hidden self – masks. The third page has questions for discussion. This activity can be used to target all sorts of issues from body image to values to character defects (in addiction) and more.

Art Activity: Self-Portraits
🆕 Art Activity-Self-PortraitsDownload

This worksheet can be used in groups or as a homework assignment. Encourage clients to be creative; instead of just drawing or coloring, they can use magazine cutouts, stickers, photos, etc. Suggested questions for discussion: How did you decide which identities to portray? Which portrait best represents your true self? Which portrait do others see the most? What, if anything, would you like to change about your portraits?


Consequences of Addictiondownload

A 2-page worksheet for exploring the consequences of addiction.

Coping with Cravings
🆕 Coping with Cravingsdownload

A 3-page worksheet with DBT-based skills for coping with cravings.

Coping with Jealousy

🆕 Coping with Jealousydownload

A worksheet for understanding jealousy, its impact, whether it’s pathological, and how to manage jealous feelings.

Couples Exercise: Affirmations
🆕 Couples Exercise-AffirmationsDownload

A 3-page worksheet for sharing self-affirmations and partner affirmations, including suggested questions for discussion.

Couples Exercise: Our Bucket List
🆕 Couples Exercise-Our Bucket ListDownload

A 3-page worksheet for couples to create a shared list of meaningful “bucket list” items to do together.

Couples Exercise: Our Bucket List (with dates)
🆕 Couples Exercise-Our Bucket List (with dates)Download

A shared bucket list that includes spaces to write in when an item was added to the list and when it was completed.

Daily Affirmations for Self-Lovedownload

A 1-page worksheet for affirmations, positive self-talk, and problem-solving strategies for daily challenges.


Daily Mood Trackerdownload

A basic mood tracker with emoji faces.


Daily Scheduledownload

A blank schedule with hourly slots starting at 6:00 a.m. and ending at 10:00 p.m. Can be used as part of a relapse prevention, for depression management, or as a planner.


Leisure-Wellness-Spirituality in Recoverydownload

A 3-page worksheet for substance use recovery for planning leisure activities and enhancing wellness/spirituality.


Letter to Selfdownload

A letter template for individuals entering long-term residential treatment for substance use, to be opened and read at treatment completion.


Life Areas for Goal Developmentdownload

An 8-page goal-setting worksheet for health/wellness, relationships/social health, emotional wellness, intellectual wellness, education/career, financial health, spirituality, and leisure.


Managing Relapse Triggersdownload

A 3-page worksheet for identifying and managing substance use relapse triggers.


My Addictiondownload

A 1-page worksheet for identifying things that promote addiction and ways to get rid of or avoid these things.


My Goalsdownload

A 3-page goal-setting worksheet for short-term and long-term goals.


My Resentmentsdownload

A 12-step-based worksheet for identifying and exploring resentments.


Poetry Sheetdownload

A worksheet for creating poetry; print, laminate, and cut out the words.


Relapse Preventiondownload

A 1-page worksheet for examining past substance use relapses and strategies for avoiding future relapses.


Relapse Prevention Plandownload

A 5-page template for creating a substance use relapse prevention plan.


Resisting Temptation in Recoverydownload

A 1-page worksheet for exploring ways to resist urges to use in early recovery.


Self-Care Ideasdownload

A 1-page checklist with quick tips, self-soothing, and indulgent ideas for self-care.


Self-Care in Colorsdownload

A 3-page worksheet for developing a colorful self-care “map” to explore patterns and identify new practices.


Self-Care Menudownload

A 3-page template for creating a self-care “menu.”


Self-Discovery Assignmentdownload

A 2-page writing assignment for self-discovery and awareness.


Self-Esteem Worksheetdownload

A 2-page worksheet for developing self-esteem.


Shifting Motivations in Recoverydownload

A 1-page worksheet for exploring motivation for substance use recovery.


Sobriety Bucket Listdownload

A fun worksheet for creating a bucket list of things that are only possible in sobriety.

Stress Management Worksheet

🆕 Stress Management Worksheetdownload

This 6-page worksheet helps with identifying and exploring stressors. From there, the worksheet can be used to build a stress management plan.


Today I’m Feeling (Feelings List)download

7 pages of feelings words.


Treatment Planning Worksheetdownload

A 6-page worksheet for describing problem areas, identifying goals, and exploring what has (and has not) been helpful in the past. This worksheet can be used to develop a collaborative treatment plan.


Wants Vs. Needsdownload

A 2-page worksheet for identifying and exploring wants and needs.


Weekly Food Diarydownload

A simple form for tracking daily meals and snacks for one week.


What Do I Have Control Over?download

A 2-page worksheet for identifying things that are controllable versus things that can’t be controlled.


What Led Up to My Last Relapse-A Relapse Narrativedownload

A 3-page narrative therapy worksheet for exploring a past substance use relapse.


Write-and-Erase Journal Pagedownload

Laminate and use with fine-tip dry erase markers.

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Workbooks & Bonus Materials

Coping with Loss Workbookdownload

100-page printable workbook for working through grief and loss.


Staying Sober Without God-Companion Workbookdownload

A companion workbook meant to be used with the book Staying Sober Without God (created with the author’s permission).

Daily Self-Inventory for Mental Health Professionals

A 10th step-based inventory for self-reflection for counselors and other mental health workers.

Free Coloring Pages for Adults

Links to 15 websites with free printable coloring sheets for adults.

Miscellaneous Printables

20 Check-In Ideas for Therapydownload

A list of 20 openers for individual therapy sessions.


Case Presentation Templatedownload

A 2-page form for case conceptualization with sections for demographics, key findings, background info, case formulation, interventions/plans, and requested feedback or suggestions.


Therapeutic Interventionsdownload

A list of interventions (action words) for clinical documentation.


Group Supervision Log-Supervisor Versiondownload

A template for tracking attendance, cases discussed, and any other group topics.


Tiny Mandala Pocket Coloring Bookdownload

A foldable coloring book with eight different designs.

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mental health worksheets

500 Free Printable Workbooks & Manuals for Therapists

A list of over 500 free printable workbooks, manuals, toolkits, and guides for mental health professionals or self-help.

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(Updated 4/9/23) The following list is comprised of links to over 500 free printable workbooks, manuals, toolkits, and guides that are published online and are free to use with clients and/or for self-help purposes. Some of the manuals, including Individual Resiliency Training and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychotic Symptoms, are evidence-based.

Please repost this and/or share with anyone you think could benefit from these free printable workbooks and clinical tools!

For free printable workbooks and guides designed especially for youth/family, click here. For additional free printable workbooks and resources on a variety of mental health topics, see 200+ Sites with Free Therapy Worksheets & Handouts and 50 Free Mental Health Worksheets & Handouts.

Free Printable Workbooks, Manuals, & Self-Help Guides for Mental Health Professionals & Consumers

Disclaimer: Links are provided for informational and educational purposes. I recommend reviewing each resource before using for updated copyright protections that may have changed since it was posted here. When in doubt, contact the author(s).

Substance Use Disorders & Addiction

Free printable workbooks, manuals, toolkits/self-help guides for substance and behavioral (i.e., food, gambling, etc.) addictions and recovery

There are several SAMHSA workbooks listed below; you can find additional free publications on SAMHSA’s website. For fact sheets and brochures, go to the National Institute on Drug Abuse website or the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. If you’re looking for 12-step literature, many 12-step organizations post free reading materials, workbooks, and worksheets; don’t forget to check local chapters! (See 12-Step Recovery Groups for a comprehensive list of recovery support group sites.)

Other great places to look for free printable workbooks and resources for addiction include education/advocacy and professional membership organization sites. (Refer to the Resource Links page on this site for an extensive list.)

💜 = Resource for Veterans
🏳️‍🌈 = LGBTQ+ Resource

Anxiety & Mood Disorders

Free printable workbooks and other resources for anxiety (generalized, social phobia/anxiety, panic attacks), depressive and bipolar disorders, and prenatal/postpartum anxiety and depression

For more factsheets, brochures, and booklets, see SAMHSA, National Institute of Mental Health, NHS UK, CMHA, and education/advocacy sites listed on the Resource Links page on this site.

💜 = Resource for Veterans

Anxiety Disorders
Depressive & Bipolar Disorders
Postpartum Anxiety & Depression

Schizophrenia & Psychotic Disorders

A small collection of free printable workbooks, manuals, toolkits, and guides for schizophrenia spectrum and related disorders

Obsessive-Compulsive & Hoarding Disorders

Free printable workbooks, manuals, and guides for obsessive-compulsive, hoarding, and related disorders and issues

Trauma & PTSD

Free printable workbooks, manuals, and guides for trauma (including vicarious trauma) and PTSD

💜 = Resource for Veterans

Eating Disorders

Free printable workbooks and toolkits/guides for anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorders

Suicide & Self-Harm

Free printable workbooks and toolkits/guide for suicide prevention and recovery and for non-suicidal self-injury

For additional resources for suicide, see 100+ Resources for Suicide Prevention & Recovery.

Grief & Loss

Free printable workbooks and toolkits/guides for grief and loss

For additional resources for grief and loss, see Grief & Loss: A Comprehensive Resource Guide and 3 Powerful TED Talks on Grief.

Anger

Free printable workbooks, manuals, and guides for coping with anger

For additional anger management tools, see 75 Helpful Anger Management Resources.

Self-Esteem: Free Printable Workbooks & Guides

Healthy Relationships & Communication

For additional related tools, see 50 Free Marriage & Relationship Assessment Tools.

Meditation & Mindfulness

Resiliency, Personal Development, & Wellness

Free Printable Workbooks for Forgiveness
  • DIY Workbook Series from the Positive Psychology Research Group at Virginia Commonwealth University (All of the following workbooks can be accessed through this link)
    • The Path to Humility: Six Practical Sections for Becoming a More Humble Person (84 pages)
    • The Path to Forgiveness: Six Practical Sections for Becoming a More Forgiving Person
    • Your Path to REACH Forgiveness: Become a More Forgiving Person in Less Than Two Hours
    • Moving Forward: Six Steps to Forgiving Yourself and Breaking Free from the Past (70 pages)
    • Experiencing Forgiveness: Six Practical Sections for Becoming a More Forgiving Christian
    • The Path to Patience: Six Practical Sections for Becoming a More Patient Person
    • The Path to Positivity: Six Practical Sections for Becoming a More Positive Person
  • Moving Forward: Six Steps to Forgiving Yourself (Self-Directed Learning), 2nd Ed. | (Printable workbook) Source: Virginia Commonwealth University/ForgiveSelf.com, 69 pages) 2015
Free Printable Workbooks & Guides for Sleep
Free Printable Workbooks & Guides for Stress

Self-Care

Free printable workbooks, toolkits, and guides for self-care

Nutrition & Exercise

Free printable workbooks, manuals, and guides for diet, physical activity, and health

CBT, DBT, & MI

Note: The free printable workbooks and other resources listed in the following section may also be listed in other sections of this post.

CBT: Free Printable Workbooks & Manuals
DBT: Free Printable Workbooks & Manuals
Motivational Interviewing

Additional Free Printable Workbooks, Manuals, & Self-Help Guides

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free printable PDF workbooks

Please comment with links to additional free printable workbooks and PDF resources for therapy or self-help!