Early Warning Signs & Action Plan

When to use the Early Warning Signs & Action Plan

The Early Warning Signs & Action Plan is an interactive cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) worksheet, most often used in CBT for bipolar disorder. It is also commonly drawn on when working with psychosis.

It is designed to be used within therapy rather than as a standalone self-help tool: a therapist introduces it, works through it collaboratively, and helps make sense of what it surfaces. You can preview the full worksheet above, then assign it digitally for clients to complete between sessions on any device — or download it as a print-ready PDF.

How it works

Most people work through it in around 20 minutes. It moves through four short steps:

1. When I Am Well — Describe your baseline — what you're like when things are going well.
2. Early Warning Signs
3. Stepped Action Plan
4. Key Contacts

Completed on the Formulate platform, your client's answers are saved automatically and shared straight back to you, so you can review them before the next session rather than waiting for a paper copy to come back.

The CBT approach behind it

In common with other CBT methods, the Early Warning Signs & Action Plan works by putting clear, personalised coping steps in place for difficult moments. The aim is not positive thinking but a clearer, shared understanding of what keeps a difficulty going — and practical, testable ways to change it.

Because it is a CBT tool it stays focused on the here-and-now links between thoughts, feelings, the body and behaviour, and it works best as one part of a wider course of therapy rather than as advice or a diagnosis.

Evidence & sources

This worksheet is grounded in established cognitive behavioural therapy theory and practice. Key sources include:

• Marlatt, G.A. & Donovan, D.M. (2005). Relapse Prevention (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
• Beck, A.T., Rush, A.J., Shaw, B.F., & Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive Therapy of Depression. New York: Guilford Press.