Choose the intervention points with the most leverage

From the full chain, select two or three links where a different action would have diverted the sequence.

Why it works

Not all links in a behavioral chain are equally accessible. Some occur under high arousal when skill-use is nearly impossible; others occur early, when the chain is still loose and a small action would have redirected it. Choosing the early, lower-arousal intervention points and designing specific responses for them targets the sequence where change is actually feasible, rather than attempting to override the chain at its most entrenched point.

How to do it

1. Review the complete chain and rate your emotional arousal at each link (0–10).
2. Mark the links that occurred when arousal was below 6 — these are your accessible intervention points.
3. For each, write a specific alternative: "At that link, instead of X, I could have done Y."

Evidence

Arousal level as a gating variable for skill use is central to DBT theory and consistent with research on cognitive load, executive function, and emotion regulation: high arousal reduces access to reflective strategies. Intervening earlier in an escalating sequence is the practical application of this finding. (mechanistic)

The specific arousal thresholds used in DBT are clinical guidelines, not experimentally established cutoffs.

Sources

• Linehan (1993), Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder

Common mistake

Choosing intervention points that were already at peak arousal — the moments you "should have" responded differently — which is motivating as a standard but not useful as a prevention plan.