Shrinkle #15 · Wellbeing · 6 letters
Self-soothe
A distress tolerance skill that uses the five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch) to comfort and calm oneself during painful moments. It is about kindness to yourself, not fixing the problem straight away.
In the room
A therapist might help someone plan one comfort for each sense, such as a favourite photo, a calming song, a scented hand cream, a cup of tea and a soft blanket.
Something a client might say
“I wrapped myself in a warm blanket, lit a candle and played soft music.”
An illustrative line, not a real client.
Where it comes from
A skill from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, developed by Marsha Linehan.
Related ideas
Distress tolerance · ACCEPTS skills · Grounding techniques
Made by Alembic Labs. Educational, not clinical advice.