Deep Breathing Worksheet (Free PDF Download)

Download the worksheet (PDF)

What is the Deep Breathing worksheet?

The deep breathing worksheet is one page built around a single paced cycle, shown in three panels: Inhale Deeply, Hold 4 Secs, Exhale 6 secs. Above the panels the sheet defines the technique and separates acute use from daily practice. Each panel carries its own count, so the pacing is fixed rather than left to the client.

How to use the Deep Breathing worksheet

Use this sheet both in session and as homework. Run the cycle once in session, so the client feels the longer exhale rather than only reading about it. The counts are four in through the nose, Hold 4 Secs, then six out through the mouth. Your clients can keep the page somewhere visible and practice at the start or end of the day, as the tips block suggests. Stop if the client reports lightheadedness, and shorten the hold instead.

Deep Breathing Worksheet Download – What’s Included

The download is one printable page, not a fillable form. It opens with a short definition of the technique, then a When to Use Deep Breathing section that separates moments of acute stress from a daily routine. The center of the page carries the three paced panels with their counts. A closing tips block suggests pairing the practice with progressive muscle relaxation or visualization.

Frequently asked questions

What is the correct way of deep breathing?

Follow the counts printed on the sheet. Inhale slowly through the nose for four, hold the breath for four, then exhale slowly through the mouth for six. The exhale is deliberately longer than the inhale. Keep the shoulders still and let the movement happen low in the abdomen.

What does deep breathing do?

The sheet describes it as a relaxation technique performed by purposefully taking slow, deep breaths, with both immediate and longer term relief from stress and anxiety. In practice it gives a client something concrete to do while arousal is climbing. It does not address the content of the worry itself.

Used this worksheet in a session?

Mentalyc writes the note for you, including the homework you assigned.

Record or upload the session and get a compliant progress note, treatment plan, and client summary in minutes. More time for the clinical work these worksheets support, less time on paperwork after hours.

Watch real stories from Mentalyc users

4.8/5 rating, trusted by 30,000+ therapists

Try Mentalyc for Free

Your Author

Tracy Collins, LCP

Tracy Collins is a licensed clinical psychologist with over six years of direct clinical experience in outpatient and telehealth settings. She specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, structured treatment planning, and measurable therapy outcomes. Tracy has extensive experience writing SOAP and DAP notes, developing insurance-compliant treatment plans, and aligning documentation with ICD-10 and DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria. Her clinical approach integrates cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, behavioral activation, exposure-based interventions, and mindfulness-based strategies to create structured and outcome-driven therapy plans. At Mentalyc, Tracy supports therapists by creating educational resources that simplify documentation workflows and improve treatment plan defensibility during audits.