C.L.E.A.R. helps clients express themselves effectively—balancing honesty, confidence, and respect. It’s a tool for teaching emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness in individual or group settings.

C.L.E.A.R. Communication Framework – A Guide for Clinicians

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C.L.E.A.R. Framework

1. CL — Clarify what happened

Describe the behavior and observable facts, as if a video camera had recorded them.

• Example: “You said you would come at 3pm and arrived at 4:10pm.”
  Avoid accusations, exaggerations, or judgments.

• Not helpful: “You’re always late — you just don’t care about me.”

2. E — Express the emotional cost

Share your genuine emotions, simply and directly. Stick with basic emotions. 

• Example: “I felt worried and frustrated.”
  Avoid “fake feelings” — thoughts, accusations or judgments disguised as emotions.

• Not helpful: “I felt abandoned” or “I feel you’re selfish.”

3. AR — Ask for a new Response

Be specific about what behavior or change you’d like next time.

• Example: “I’d appreciate it if you could text me if you’ll be late.”

• Avoid vague or passive aggressive statements. 

• Not helpful: I just want you to respect my time. Our workplace would be better if we weren’t late.

Teaching Tips for Clinicians

- Use role-play to help clients practice real-life scenarios.
- Reinforce calm tone, eye contact, and confident posture.
- Discuss barriers like guilt, fear of rejection, or people-pleasing tendencies.
- Integrate with other DBT or CBT modules on boundaries and communication.

Example Exercise

Have the client write a C.L.E.A.R. Script for a recent conflict and review it together, focusing on tone and clarity.