When to assign homework, and when to hold back

You want your clients to make progress, not just during sessions but between them, too. That’s where homework can help. When it’s used wisely. But not every client needs homework, and not every session calls for it.

Homework can be a powerful tool for building skills, reinforcing insights, and creating momentum. But when it’s forced, vague, or poorly timed, it can backfire, adding stress, breeding resistance, or even weakening the therapeutic relationship.

So how do you know when to assign homework, and when to skip it?

Homework can help your client grow

According to A provider’s guide to brief cognitive behavioral therapy, “Homework assignments facilitate patient skill acquisition, treatment compliance, and symptom reduction by integrating the concepts learned in sessions into daily life. Homework is a key mechanism for facilitating between-session work and progress.” Homework works best when it’s specific, actionable, and tied to their goals. When done right, it turns therapy from a weekly conversation into a living, active process. But timing and fit matter. Here are the key moments when homework is most likely to help: 

Assign homework when your client is motivated and ready

Not everyone is cut out for homework. If your client is highly motivated and has a solid grasp of their therapy goals, assigning tasks can be a powerful way to keep them engaged. Think of it like practicing scales before a piano recital. It’s not just busywork: it’s a chance to build skills that they’ll use in real life. 

But here’s the catch: if your client isn’t ready, homework can feel like a burden. Pay attention to their feedback. If they’re already overwhelmed or unsure about their goals, pushing homework might just add to their stress. It might even send the message: You’re not doing enough. That’s the opposite of what you want. 

Your client needs to be willing to put in the time. It seems so simple, but if they’re unwilling to commit time and effort to homework for whatever reason, assigning more work won’t help. It could even strain your therapeutic relationship, with one or both parties feeling resentment. 

The therapist-client alliance can often affect how willing clients are to do homework, so it’s worth taking the time to build your relationship before assigning exercises. 

Ask yourself: 

• Do they express interest in getting better between sessions? 

• Do they seem curious about trying new ways of thinking or acting? 

Are they already taking small steps on their own?

Make assignments clear, specific, and achievable

Vague assignments like “practice mindfulness” are about as helpful as telling someone to “just relax.” Instead, David A. Clark, PhD, tells therapists to get specific. “Write down three things you’re grateful for each day” or “spend 10 minutes journaling about your feelings when you’re upset.” When homework is clear and manageable, it’s more likely to get done, and to make a difference. Also, keep it realistic. A 5-minute journaling prompt is more likely to get done than a 30-minute reflection. Start small. Success builds confidence.

Use homework to practice new skills outside of sessions 

If you’ve just introduced a technique (like grounding exercises or communication strategies), give them a chance to practice. For example: “next time you feel anxious, try this 4-7-8 breathing exercise for five minutes. I’d love to hear how it felt.” 

Homework takes the hypothetical framework and techniques of therapy and allows clients to apply them to real life situations. And when clients test skills in real life, they gain insight no worksheet can provide. It helps clients build confidence and see real-world results, which not only helps them meet their goals, but also keeps them invested in therapy. Studies suggest that one common reason clients abandon therapy is that they’re not seeing the benefits of therapy. The right homework can motivate them to continue therapy.

When they’re ready to test ideas in real life 

Homework can help clients test new behaviors or track patterns in their thoughts, feelings, or actions. And some insights only come from experience. If a client believes, “If I say no, people will hate me,” the therapy room won’t disprove that. But real-life experiments (like learning to say “no” to a small request they don’t want to do) might. These assignments help clients notice trends and make connections they might miss otherwise. Over time, they can shift deep-seated fears, and help clients break unhealthy patterns, as well as form healthy habits. 

Homework to help clients track patterns or emotions

A mood chart or journaling prompt can help clients notice trends, patterns, or triggers they might miss in the moment. Instead of asking, “How was your week?” you can ask:

“You said you’ve been feeling drained. What if you jot down your energy level three times a day for a few days? We can look for patterns together.”

Simple tracking, like mood logs, sleep notes, or food and mood charts, gives you both real data. It turns guesses into observations.

To build confidence with small, achievable steps

Progress fuels motivation. For clients who feel stuck, a small, achievable task can spark momentum. If a client avoids social situations, maybe they start with a 10-minute chat with a friend, then share reflections. When they do it (even if it’s hard) they prove to themselves: I can do something I’ve been avoiding. Success with small steps can build momentum and confidence. Over time, these small successes can help you and your client work towards a larger goal.

Always follow up and adjust based on feedback

Assigning homework isn’t a “set it and forget it” deal. If you assign it and never ask about it, your client may think “This isn’t really important”. When your client comes back, take the time to talk about what worked, what didn’t, and why. This isn’t just about giving them something to do; it’s about understanding what’s helpful for them. Did they feel more in control after journaling? Did they notice patterns in their anxiety? Use their feedback to tweak future assignments. When done right, studies show that homework can help you monitor client behavior outside of sessions.  

Use their feedback to adjust:

• Did it help? Great, let’s build on it.

• Was it too hard? No problem, let’s scale it back.

• Didn’t do it? That’s useful too. What got in the way?

When homework might backfire

Even good tools can cause harm if used at the wrong time. Homework isn’t always helpful. In fact, it can deepen stress, create shame, or damage trust when it’s poorly timed. Pause before assigning it in these cases:

Avoid homework during crisis or acute distress

If your client is in the middle of a panic attack, grieving a loss, or reeling from a breakup, the goal is stabilization, not skill-building.

Asking someone to journal during a panic attack is like handing someone a manual while their house is on fire. It’s not helpful. It’s tone-deaf. If a client already feels like they’re struggling, they might view therapy as another struggle instead of a safe space.

In crisis, focus on safety, support, and grounding, like the exercises suggested in the Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 57. Save homework for when they’re ready to look ahead.

Don’t add homework if they’re overwhelmed already

If your client is dealing with a lot of stress, depression, or anxiety, adding homework might feel like piling on. Remember, therapy is about support, not pressure. Your sessions should be a source of support, not another item on their to-do list. It can be helpful to think of it in terms of the spoon theory, or the hierarchy of needs. If they’re already having a hard time managing their day-to-day life, adding another task could push them over the edge. Ask yourself: Is this task supporting them, or stretching them too thin? Do they have other things they should prioritize right now? Sometimes, the most therapeutic move is to lighten the load, not add to it.

Hold off if your client is resistant or defiant

Pushing homework on someone who says, “I won’t do that,” may deepen resistance. That doesn’t mean they’ll never do homework. It might just mean the relationship isn’t strong enough yet, or that the task feels irrelevant. Take time to build trust and explore their concerns. You may need to establish a stronger rapport or do more work in-session before they consider doing homework. Respect their answer. Trust grows when clients feel heard, not pressured. 

Skip homework that doesn’t connect to their goals

Assigning homework for the sake of assigning homework? Not helpful. Every task you give should tie back to your client’s specific goals. If you’re not sure how an assignment fits in, ask yourself: “How will this help my client move forward?” If you can’t answer that, it’s probably not worth assigning.

Be mindful of negative associations with “homework”

For many people, the word “homework” brings back memories of math problems and book reports. If your client has a negative association with homework, it’s probably not going to help them feel more relaxed or engaged. Instead of calling it “homework,” try framing it as “practice,” “experiments,” or “small steps.” 

Communicate to your client that it’s not a graded assignment for your benefit, but rather a way to practice what they’re learning, to learn more about themselves, and to fill the gap between sessions. And make the purpose clear. Emphasize curiosity over compliance.

How to make homework work for them (and you)

1. Start small. Even a one-minute check-in or a yes/no journal entry can build habits without stress.
2. Ask for their input. “what’s something you’d like to try this week?” lets them own the process.
3. Follow up. “How did that exercise feel?” Curiosity matters more than judging whether they “did it right.”
4. Be flexible. If they’re swamped, adjust: “maybe this task can wait until next week?”
5. Make it engaging. It can’t always be fun, but incorporating a client’s interests can help them see tasks through.

Homework is a tool, not a requirement

Homework isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s a tool; and like any tool, it’s only useful when it’s the right fit for the job. Homework can be a bridge between sessions, but only when it fits their pace and priorities. Before you assign anything, think about your client’s needs, their readiness, and how the task will help them. And always, always be ready to adjust based on their feedback.

When you use homework thoughtfully, it can be a powerful way to support their progress. But when it’s not the right fit, it’s okay to leave it on the shelf. After all, therapy is about meeting your clients where they are, not pushing them to where you think they should be.