DBT 101: STUN

One of the main reasons I love using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with clients is because its acronym and initialism system makes the skills super easy to remember (on top of being effective!). One of these acronyms is STUN: Sensations, Thoughts, Urges, and Name the Emotion.

This acronym is a great entry point into DBT because it gets a the core of mindfulness by answering: What am I feeling; what am I thinking; what do I want to do; and what emotion am I experiencing? It can be used any time an intense feeling is arising and as a nonjudgemental way to build awareness of those feelings. In turn, the awareness of these emotions will bring down the intensity and make it easier to handle the discomfort.

Check out the worksheet below to learn more about STUN.
Want to practice on your own? Download this printable version!