The DBT-WCCL (Dialectical Behavior Therapy Ways of Coping Checklist) is a 59-item self-report inventory developed by Neacsiu, Rizvi, Vitaliano, Lynch, and Linehan (2010) at the University of Washington that assesses the degree to which individuals use DBT-based adaptive coping skills versus dysfunctional coping behaviors in their daily lives. Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = never used to 3 = regularly used in the past month). The instrument yields three subscale scores: the DBT Skills Use Subscale (DSS; 38 items), the General Dysfunctional Coping Subscale (GDC; 15 items), and the Blaming Others subscale (BOT; 6 items). Internal consistency is excellent for the DSS (α = .92–.96) and good-to-excellent for the DCS (α = .84–.92). The DBT-WCCL was originally validated in a borderline personality disorder sample and has demonstrated strong psychometric properties across diagnostically diverse psychiatric populations. Zentake delivers the DBT-WCCL as a secure, auto-scored digital form with EMR-ready reporting.
Each of the 59 items is rated 0 (“never used”) to 3 (“regularly used in the past month”). Subscale scores are calculated as the mean (average) of relevant items — not a sum — producing scores on a 0–3 scale for each subscale:
No established clinical cutoff thresholds exist for the DBT-WCCL; the instrument is designed for within-person change monitoring over the course of DBT treatment rather than categorical severity classification. Clinicians track whether DSS scores increase and DCS/BOT scores decrease as treatment progresses. Zentake automatically calculates all three subscale means upon form submission and generates longitudinal change charts.
Step 1: Establish the assessment context. The DBT-WCCL is designed for use with adults and adolescents receiving or being considered for Dialectical Behavior Therapy. It is typically administered at intake and at regular intervals throughout treatment (e.g., every 4–8 weeks).
Step 2: Deliver the form before or during the session. Use Zentake to send the DBT-WCCL via a secure text or email link for pre-session completion, or administer it on a tablet during the waiting room check-in.
Step 3: Orient the client to the rating scale and time frame. Instruct the client to rate each item based on how often they used each strategy in the past month, from 0 (never) to 3 (regularly). Clarify that the checklist covers both helpful and unhelpful strategies.
Step 4: Review auto-scored subscale means before the session. Zentake calculates DSS, GDC, and BOT subscale averages immediately upon submission. Clinicians can review scores to identify DBT skill use patterns and dysfunctional coping domains to target in the session.
Step 5: Track longitudinal change across treatment. Re-administer at regular intervals and use Zentake’s measures dashboard to visualize DBT skill use growth and dysfunctional coping reduction over time. Export results to your EMR for integrated clinical documentation.
Scoring: Paper DBT-WCCL requires manual subscale averaging across 38, 15, and 6 items. Zentake auto-calculates DSS, GDC, and BOT subscale means upon submission.
Completion: Paper forms require in-person distribution and retrieval. Zentake delivers the 59-item DBT-WCCL via secure link for completion on any device before or during the appointment.
Delivery: Paper forms depend on printing and physical handoff. Zentake sends the form via encrypted email or SMS.
Data Storage: Paper forms require locked HIPAA-compliant filing. Zentake stores all responses in encrypted cloud storage with audit trails.
Longitudinal Tracking: Paper tracking requires manual charting of subscale averages across administrations. Zentake’s measures dashboard automatically visualizes DBT skill use and dysfunctional coping trajectories over time.
Security: Paper forms risk loss, theft, or unauthorized access. Zentake uses end-to-end encryption and role-based access controls.
Integration: Paper DBT-WCCL results require manual re-entry. Zentake exports results directly to compatible EMR platforms.
Cost: Ongoing printing and staff processing costs accumulate. Zentake eliminates these while improving data accuracy and clinical insight.
What does the DBT-WCCL measure?
The DBT-WCCL measures the extent to which a person uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy-based adaptive coping skills (DBT Skills Use Subscale) versus dysfunctional coping behaviors (General Dysfunctional Coping and Blaming Others subscales) in their daily life over the past month. It is used to track DBT skill acquisition and application throughout treatment.
How do you score the DBT-WCCL?
Each of the 59 items is rated 0 (never used) to 3 (regularly used). Subscale scores are the mean (average) of relevant items: DSS (38 items), GDC (15 items), and BOT (6 items), each yielding a score from 0–3. Higher DSS scores indicate greater DBT skill use; higher GDC/BOT scores indicate greater dysfunctional coping. Zentake auto-calculates all subscale means upon submission.
How long does the DBT-WCCL take to complete?
The DBT-WCCL typically takes 10–15 minutes to complete. Its 59 items cover a broad range of coping strategies across all four DBT skill modules. Zentake’s digital format allows completion from any device before the session, so no session time is lost to administration.
Who should use the DBT-WCCL?
The DBT-WCCL is designed for adults and adolescents receiving Dialectical Behavior Therapy or being considered for DBT-based treatment. It is administered by DBT therapists, program clinicians, and researchers. It has been validated in borderline personality disorder samples and shown to perform well in diagnostically diverse psychiatric populations.
Is the DBT-WCCL validated?
Yes. The DBT-WCCL was developed and validated by Neacsiu et al. (2010) in a BPD sample, demonstrating excellent internal consistency (DSS α = .92–.96; DCS α = .84–.92), good test-retest reliability, and strong convergent and discriminant validity. A subsequent study by Stein et al. (2016) confirmed its psychometric properties in a diagnostically diverse partial hospital population.
What are the DBT-WCCL subscales?
The DBT-WCCL yields three subscale scores: the DBT Skills Use Subscale (DSS; 38 items measuring adaptive coping via DBT skills), the General Dysfunctional Coping Subscale (GDC; 15 items measuring maladaptive coping), and the Blaming Others subscale (BOT; 6 items measuring externalizing coping). Subscale scores range from 0–3 (mean of items).
Is there a free version of the DBT-WCCL?
The DBT-WCCL scoring description is available through the University of Washington Behavioral Research & Therapy Clinics. The instrument is widely used in clinical research and DBT programs. Zentake’s platform subscription covers secure digital delivery, auto-scoring, and longitudinal tracking.
How often should the DBT-WCCL be administered?
The DBT-WCCL is typically administered at treatment intake and then at regular intervals throughout DBT treatment — commonly every 4–8 weeks or at the end of each skills training module. Zentake’s measures dashboard makes it easy to schedule re-administrations and visualize score change over time.
1. Neacsiu, A. D., Rizvi, S. L., Vitaliano, P. P., Lynch, T. R., & Linehan, M. M. (2010). The dialectical behavior therapy ways of coping checklist: Development and psychometric properties. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 66(6), 563–582. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20685
2. Stein, E., Martin, C., Linehan, M. M., & Neacsiu, A. D. (2016). Properties of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Ways of Coping Checklist in a diagnostically diverse partial hospital sample. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 72(2), 107–120. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22226
3. University of Washington Behavioral Research & Therapy Clinics. (2010). Scoring description for the DBT-Ways of Coping Checklist (DBT-WCCL). Retrieved from https://depts.washington.edu/uwbrtc/
Last updated: March 2026
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