Why I Developed This Worksheet and How I Use It
Todd Schmenk, LMHC
Over time, I’ve found that when clients are highly agitated, restless, or flooded with self-judgment, the problem is often not a lack of insight or coping skills. The problem is loss of orientation.
In these moments, asking clients to “process,” “challenge thoughts,” or even “regulate emotions” can unintentionally add demand to a system that is already overloaded. What’s missing isn’t effort, it’s context.
That’s the space where Finding a Place to Stand was developed.
This worksheet is grounded in Functional Contextualism and Relational Frame Theory, and it draws directly from the TEAMS processes (Temporal anchoring, Experiential awareness, Attentional flexibility, Meaning, and Self-as-context). Its purpose is not expressive writing. It is context engineering.
Why Writing + TEAMS Is a Good Fit Right Now
From a functional contextual lens, writing here is not about processing content, it’s about changing the context in which private events occur.
When a client presents with agitation and restlessness, I conceptualize this as:
- High arousal
- Low orienting cues
In that state, language tends to narrow, urgency increases, and rule-governed behavior takes over. Self-judgments like “I’m worthless” are not just thoughts — they are rules that organize behavior toward withdrawal, self-attack, or frantic overextension.
The goal in these moments is not insight.
The goal is re-establishing orientation and perspective.
The TEAMS-informed structure of this worksheet does exactly that:
- Temporal anchoring through the Present Moment
- Observational distance through Self-as-Context
- Spatial/relational anchoring through identifying a Place
Together, these processes support psychological flexibility under load, rather than asking clients to cope better or think differently while their system is already dysregulated.
How I Guide the Writing (Clinician Instructions)
Already have an account ? Sign in
