A structured analysis of an emotional episode into trigger, response, and consequence. It is the basic self-monitoring tool of the Unified Protocol.
Step-by-step guide
- Identify the antecedent: what happened, where, when, with whom
- Describe the response across thoughts, bodily sensations, and behavior
- Rate emotion intensity from 0 to 10
- Identify the consequence of the response
- Mark any emotion-driven behavior
- Discuss whether the response helped or maintained the problem
When to use
- From module 2 onward
- For episode review in session and as homework
Key phrases
Let us separate the episode into what happened, how you responded, and what followed.
Follow-up questions
What happened first?
What was the thought, body sensation, and behavior?
What did the behavior lead to?
Alternative phrasings
We are mapping the emotion cycle, not judging it.
Warnings
- ⚠️ Clients may describe only thoughts and miss body or behavior
- ⚠️ Gently bring attention back to all three components
Source: Barlow et al. 2011; Barlow et al. 2018
Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.