Anxiety art therapy worksheets
If you are a therapist looking for an emotion reference sheet for clients to help expand their emotional vocabulary, this article provides an overview of the benefits of using emotion worksheets and a feelings identification chart for clients.
We’ve also included a free downloadable emotion reference sheet that you can save to your electronic health record (EHR) and use in your practice.
Benefits of using an emotion reference sheet
An emotions reference sheet can help clients identify their feelings.
Used in therapy, counseling, coaching, or journaling, an emotions reference sheet can be beneficial for clients for several reasons:
Increases self-awareness
When big emotions show up, clients often have more specific underlying feelings.
An emotions reference sheet or feelings wheel can help them hone in on the type of feeling.
For example, anger may be a surface-level emotion, but after reflection, clients might realize they feel hurt or betrayed.
Improves communication
With increased self-awareness, it’s easier to express your feelings to others, adapt or reinforce boundaries, and resolve conflicts.
Supports people with neurodivergence
Clients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder sometimes have difficulty identifying and describing feelings, which is called alexithymia.
Approximately one in 10 people experience alexithymia. However, the rate is higher among autistic people (ranging from 40% to 65%), and around 22% of people with ADHD have alexithymia.
Using tools like an emotion reference sheet can help clients identify and explain their feelings.
Enhances emotional regulation
Recognizing and labeling emotions can help one act more mindfully. Using distress tolerance or emotional regulation skills can prevent people from reacting to feelings in the heat of the moment.
Identifies healing opportunities
Increased self-awareness of emotional states may help to determine when there may be unresolved issues, like anxiety or unresolved trauma.
The emotions reference sheet can be used with adults and children.
When working on emotions with children, caregivers can model naming and expressing their feelings, validate their child’s feelings, provide positive reinforcement, and identify any unmet needs.
What is a feelings identification chart?
You may have used a feelings wheel for adults with clients before to help them map out their experiences. An emotions worksheet for adults—like a feelings identification chart—serves the same purpose, but in a clear table format.
This tool lists core emotions such as happiness, anger, love, fear, sadness, and surprise. Underneath each core category, clients can find a list of more nuanced, related feelings to help them build emotional granularity.
If you work with children, our emotion faces chart or emotions worksheets for preschool-age clients may be more age-appropriate.
Positive and neutral emotions
Love | Happy | Surprised | Neutral |
|---|---|---|---|
Affectionate | Cheerful | Baffled | Blank |
Caring | Content | Conflicted | Indifferent |
Compassionate | Excited | Confused | Numb |
Grateful | Joyful | Curious | Passive |
Loving | Peaceful | Indecisive | Uneasy |
Warm | Pleased | Perplexed | Vulnerable |
Appreciated | Playful | Puzzled | Tired |
Valued | Proud | Skeptical | Meh |
Close | Relaxed | Torn | Ambivalent |
Trusting | Satisfied | Uncertain | Flat |
Challenging emotions
Fear | Sad | Angry |
|---|---|---|
Afraid | Ashamed | Annoyed |
Alarmed | Disappointed | Bitter |
Anxious | Discouraged | Disgusted |
Apprehensive | Embarrassed | Enraged |
Insecure | Grieving | Frustrated |
Nervous | Heartbroken | Grumpy |
Overwhelmed | Hopeless | Irritated |
Panicked | Lonely | Jealous |
Startled | Regretful | Resentful |
Worried | Rejected | Furious |
How to use the emotion reference sheet
You can download and use the emotions worksheet in several ways.
For instance, print or screen share the worksheet and use it as a psychoeducational tool.
Provide the emotion worksheets to the client to remind them of what you discussed during therapy. Then, ask the client to reflect on the emotion reference sheet between sessions and share their experience at their next therapy appointment.
You can also use the sheet with other emotion worksheets, such as our list of emotions or emotion scale.
Finally, share the emotion reference sheet with other therapists or supervisees.
Sources
Hogeveen, J., & Grafman, J. (2021). Alexithymia. Handbook of clinical neurology.
Neff, M., A. (2022). Alexithymia Workbook. Neurodivergent Insights.
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