Expanded Grounding Techniques Library (30 Skills)

STOP Skill (DBT)

#Crisis #Craving #DBT

Use when: When emotionally overwhelmed and about to act impulsively.

Clinician Tip: Use before responding to triggers or relapse urges.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “Stop. I’m stepping back. I notice anger. I’m choosing not to react.”

Therapist Coaching: “Good. Now what action protects your recovery?”

3-3-3 Technique

#Anxiety #Grounding #Sensory

Use when: When anxious or overwhelmed.

Clinician Tip: Quick anxiety reset in public places.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I see a chair… I hear the AC… I’m moving my shoulders.”

Therapist Coaching: “Nice. What’s your anxiety now (0–10)?”

Name/Date/Location Orientation

#Trauma #Dissociation

Use when: When feeling detached or dissociated.

Clinician Tip: Reinforces present-moment safety.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “My name is __. It’s Monday. I’m in my therapist’s office.”

Therapist Coaching: “Great. Look around and name 3 objects.”

Cold Water Face Splash (Safe TIP version)

#Crisis #Body

Use when: When in high emotional crisis.

Clinician Tip: Ensure no medical contraindications.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m splashing cool water and slowing my breath.”

Therapist Coaching: “Notice how your body shifts.”

Grounding Object

#Sensory #Craving #Anxiety

Use when: When urges spike in public or at home.

Clinician Tip: Portable coping anchor.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m holding my coin and describing it.”

Therapist Coaching: “Great. What changed?”

Counting Backwards by 7s

#Cognitive #Craving #Anxiety

Use when: When rumination or urge loops persist.

Clinician Tip: Engages working memory to interrupt cravings.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “100, 93, 86…”

Therapist Coaching: “Keep going for 1 minute.”

Positive Self-Talk Script

#Self-Compassion #Relapse

Use when: When shame fuels relapse thoughts.

Clinician Tip: Normalize slips without shaming.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “Urges pass. I don’t have to act.”

Therapist Coaching: “Say that again slower.”

Square Breathing Variation

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing square breathing variation right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

54321 + Affirmation Combo

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing 54321 + affirmation combo right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Gratitude Grounding (5 things)

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing gratitude grounding (5 things) right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Body Scan Mini Version

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing body scan mini version right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Anchor Phrase Repetition

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing anchor phrase repetition right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Feet on Floor Grounding

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing feet on floor grounding right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Wall Push Isometric Exercise

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing wall push isometric exercise right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Cold Object Hold

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing cold object hold right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Name 10 Animals A-Z

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing name 10 animals a-z right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Describe Room in Detail

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing describe room in detail right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Music + Breath Sync

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing music + breath sync right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Walking Mindfully

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing walking mindfully right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Sensory Temperature Contrast

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing sensory temperature contrast right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Guided Imagery Mini

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing guided imagery mini right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Visualization of Future Self

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing visualization of future self right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Grounding Through Prayer/Meditation

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing grounding through prayer/meditation right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Stretch + Breath Combo

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing stretch + breath combo right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Trigger Journal Pause

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing trigger journal pause right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Chew Gum Mindfully

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing chew gum mindfully right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Smell-Based Grounding

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing smell-based grounding right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Color Scan Exercise

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing color scan exercise right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Mantra Repetition

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing mantra repetition right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Touch + Texture Exploration

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing touch + texture exploration right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”

Mindful Sip of Water

#Grounding #Anxiety

Use when: When feeling emotionally dysregulated or triggered.

Clinician Tip: Encourage tracking urge level before and after.

Steps
Video Demonstrations
Mock Client Modeling

Client Script: “I’m practicing mindful sip of water right now.”

Therapist Coaching: “Rate the shift. What do you notice?”