Early Warning Signs & Action Plan
Identify your personal early warning signs across thinking, mood, behaviour, and physical health, and create a stepped action plan for responding.
Written by Tarun Vermani, Trainee Clinical Psychologist Last reviewed
Assign and Download open signup, then return you to this worksheet. No card required. Resource access depends on your plan or trial. Already have an account? Sign in
Worksheet preview
Early Warning Signs & Action Plan
PreviewLive preview — type in any field to try it. Nothing is saved here.
When I Am Well
Describe your baseline — what you're like when things are going well.
Early Warning Signs
| # | Warning Sign | Area | Who Usually Notices? | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 |
Stepped Action Plan
Key Contacts
| # | Name | Role / Relationship | Phone / Contact | Contact When? | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||||
| 2 |
Try it here — nothing you type is saved. Sign up to assign it and let clients complete it on any device.
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:
- When I Am Well — Describe your baseline — what you're like when things are going well.
- Early Warning Signs
- Stepped Action Plan
- 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.
For use alongside professional support
Formulate provides educational CBT resources for use with a qualified therapist. They are not a substitute for professional assessment, diagnosis, or crisis care.
If you need urgent help now:
- Emergency services: 999 — if you or someone else is in immediate danger
- Samaritans: 116 123 — free, day or night, 365 days a year
- SANEline: 0800 689 5555 — 4:30pm–10:30pm, every day
More General CBT Skills worksheets
View all General CBT Skills worksheets →General CBT Skills
Longitudinal Formulation (Beckian)
Map the developmental pathway from early experiences through core beliefs and rules to the current maintenance cycle.
General CBT Skills
Safety Plan
A structured 6-step safety plan for crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
General CBT Skills
Cross-Sectional Formulation (5-Area Model)
Map how thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviour interact around a triggering situation using the CBT 5-area model.
General CBT Skills
5-Column Thought Record
The classic cognitive restructuring tool. Identify automatic thoughts, evaluate the evidence, and develop more balanced alternatives.
General CBT Skills
7-Column Thought Record
The full extended thought record with evidence for and against, balanced thought, and re-rating of emotion.
General CBT Skills
Cognitive Distortions Checklist
Identify common cognitive distortions present in your automatic thoughts.
Want to assign this to a client?
Create a free therapist account to use the assignment and library download tools. Clients can complete assigned homework online or use a blank PDF. See how the homework workflow works.
No card required. The Free plan includes 10 worksheet uses a month. Check plan access and limits.