PTSD Worksheets Library
A free, clinician-reviewed set of trauma and PTSD worksheets to help you steady yourself, understand what you are going through, and support the work you do in therapy.
About this tool
Post-traumatic stress is the mind and body's lingering response to an overwhelming experience. It can show up as intrusive memories or flashbacks, nightmares, feeling constantly on guard, emotional numbness, and avoiding anything that brings the trauma back. These are not signs of weakness or being broken. They are predictable, well-documented reactions of a nervous system that learned to brace for danger. Understanding that is often the first step toward relief.
These worksheets follow the order that trauma treatment usually does. Judith Herman described recovery in stages: first safety and stabilization, then processing the trauma, then reconnecting with life. So the tools here begin with understanding and steadying skills like psychoeducation, grounding, a flashback plan, and safe place imagery, and only then move toward gently mapping triggers and history. That sequence is deliberate. Stability comes before you turn toward the hard material.
Effective, evidence-based treatments for PTSD exist, including trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, prolonged exposure, and cognitive processing therapy. These worksheets are designed to support that professional work, not stand in for it. Used between sessions, they can help you practice skills and bring clearer information to your therapist. The deeper processing of trauma is best done with a trained clinician who can keep the pace safe.
All of these tools are free, run entirely in your browser, and produce a clean PDF. Nothing you write is stored or sent anywhere.
- van der Kolk B. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking; 2014.
- Herman JL. Trauma and Recovery. Basic Books; 1992.
- National Center for PTSD. Understanding PTSD and PTSD treatment. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; 2019.
PTSD Worksheets Library FAQ
What are PTSD worksheets?
Structured exercises that teach trauma coping skills and support recovery: understanding your reactions, grounding during flashbacks, building an inner safe place, and mapping triggers and history. They complement professional treatment for post-traumatic stress.
Which PTSD worksheet should I start with?
Start with safety and understanding. Read what trauma does to the brain and body, then learn grounding and a flashback plan. Save the deeper trigger and timeline mapping for when you feel steady, ideally with a therapist.
Can worksheets treat PTSD on their own?
No. PTSD responds well to evidence-based treatments like trauma-focused CBT, EMDR, and prolonged exposure. These worksheets support that work and help you practice skills between sessions, but they are not a substitute for a trained clinician.
Is anything I write stored?
No. Every tool runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded. The PDF is created on your own device.