It Could Be Worse Worksheet (Free PDF Download)

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Download the worksheet (PDF)

What is the It Could Be Worse worksheet?

The it could be worse worksheet takes one current challenge through four prompts across two pages. The client writes the challenge and its hardest part, then what they wish was different. Two further prompts follow: Write 2-3 ways this situation could be worse, and 2-3 things you are grateful for in this situation.

How to use the It Could Be Worse worksheet

Use this sheet both in session and as homework, though the first pass belongs in session. Order matters. The challenge and what the client wishes was different come first, so the comparison lands after the difficulty has been taken seriously. Your clients can then work the blank page alone. Read the worked example aloud first, where the entries run from I got in trouble at work to I still have my job.

It Could Be Worse Worksheet Download – What’s Included

Two printable pages, not fillable. Page one is the same sheet filled in, using a worked example about a missed deadline at work. Its gratitude entries include I was able to fix the situation. Page two is the blank version, with the four prompts and space to write two or three answers under the last two.

Frequently asked questions

Why is saying it could be worse bad?

Said to someone, it usually lands as a correction and closes the conversation. The sheet avoids that by keeping the comparison in the client’s own hand, and by asking for the difficulty first. Nothing on the sheet is written by anyone other than the client.

What does “it could be worse” mean?

On this sheet it is a downward comparison, written by the client about their own situation. The example lists I could have gotten fired alongside the loss of a client. It is a step in the exercise, not a verdict on how bad the situation is.

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.

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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.