This exercise helps clients identify negative self-statements that interfere with assertive communication, and develop adaptive coping statements that support self-expression.
Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Research indicates that negative thoughts and beliefs can affect the way people communicate. For this reason, several assertiveness training programs address the negative ‘self-statements’ that hinder assertive communication. The Developing Your Coping Statements exercise is informed by self-instructional training. It is designed to help clients identify their negative self-statements and develop alternative coping statements that support assertive communication and emotional regulation during challenging interactions.
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Testing beliefs about judgment, rejection, or negative evaluation during assertive interactions.
Identifying worries and concerns about self-expression.
Addressing beliefs that contribute to passivity, low confidence, or difficulty expressing needs.
Helping clients identify beliefs about burdening others, appearing selfish, or not being entitled to one's needs.
Clarifying beliefs that interfere with direct, honest, and respectful communication in relationships.
Explain how self-statements influence feelings and behavior during interactions.
Help the client list the negative self-statements they experience before, during, and after assertive situations.
Generate concise coping statements that support assertive behavior, emotional regulation, and self-reflection.
Identify thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, or behaviors that can act as signals to use these coping statements.
Encourage the client to practice their coping statements regularly.
Reflect on what worked and refine the statements after challenging interactions.
Self-instructional training (SIT; Meichenbaum, 1977; Meichenbaum & Goodman, 1971) aims to bring maladaptive ‘self-talk’ or ‘self-statements’ into awareness and develop alternative self-instructions that support more adaptive responses (Dowd, 2002; Valerio & Stone, 1982). Informed by the work of Lev Vygotsky (1962) and Alexander Luria (1961), SIT recognizes that the internalization of self-statements plays a key role in self-control and behavior regulation (Meichenbaum, 1977). Accordingly, SIT is distinguished from other cognitive interventions such as ‘rational restructuring’, which focus on challenging maladaptive thoughts (Carmody, 1978; Dowd, 2002; Rakos, 1991).
SIT in assertiveness training aims to guide assertive behavior, improve emotional regulation, and ensure the transfer and maintenance of these skills after treatment (Jakubowski & Lange, 1978; Linehan, 1979). Clients are taught that self-statements play a role in assertive communication and explore new coping statements that support assertive behavior. These coping statements are then reviewed and rehearsed prior to taking assertive action.
Research indicates SIT is an effective intervention for assertive communication. For example, Craighead (1979) found SIT to be significantly more effective than no treatment or placebo control on several outcome measures. In a direct comparison of SIT plus assertiveness skills training, a rational-emotive intervention (focused on identifying and challenging maladaptive self-statements) plus assertiveness skills training, and behavioral assertiveness training, all three training groups produced similar outcomes. Additionally, Kazdin and Mascitelli (1982) found that individuals who engaged in self-instructions experienced greater improvements in assertive communication at post-treatment than those who only used behavioral rehearsal.
This Developing Your Coping Statements exercise is informed by self-instructional training. It is designed to help clients identify their negative self-statements and develop alternative coping statements that support assertive communication and emotional regulation during interactions.
A structured worksheet for identifying negative self-statements and developing adaptive coping statements.
Prompts and guidance for helping clients create coping statements.
Examples of negative self-statements and alternative coping statements.
Recommendations for further reading.
The resource helps clients:
Become more aware of their negative self-talk.
Develop adaptive coping statements that support assertive communication.
Put these coping statements into practice.
Express themselves calmly and confidently.
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