Instructions #

The idea of a “pain list,” also known as a “suffering inventory,” is to create a comprehensive record of the psychological issues, challenges, and distressing experiences that an individual faces.

Instead of solely focusing on external events or circumstances, the emphasis is on capturing one’s internal reactions and responses to those events.

By acknowledging and documenting these emotional, cognitive, and behavioral difficulties, clients gain a clearer understanding of their personal struggles and areas of pain. The pain list serves as a tool for self-reflection and self-awareness.

It encourages clients to honestly and thoroughly identify the thoughts, feelings, memories, urges, bodily sensations, habits, or behavioral predispositions that cause them distress.

It allows them to examine the range of psychological issues they encounter, both those directly linked to specific situations and those that may not have an obvious external trigger.

The pain list can help clients recognize patterns, identify recurring issues, and gain insight into the duration of their problems.

By documenting the duration, they can gain a deeper understanding of how long these challenges have been present in their lives and potentially explore any underlying factors contributing to their persistence.

Worksheet #

Source #

Access the full suite of 500 therapy and coaching templates. This worksheet features in my book, available on Amazon:

500 Practical NLP Forms, Templates & Worksheets: For Therapy, Coaching & Training