10 Step Inventory Worksheets

Key Takeaways

Step 10 daily inventory worksheets track resentments and character defects in real time

Structured reflection questions guide self-awareness and emotional honesty throughout recovery

Printable templates support both individual practice and therapeutic group settings

Nightly inventory habit builds accountability and prevents relapse through consistent reflection

What is a 10 Step Inventory Worksheet?

A 10 step inventory worksheet is a structured reflection tool used in addiction recovery and 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Overeaters Anonymous (OA). Step 10 requires individuals to continue taking personal inventory throughout their recovery journey. This worksheet transforms that spiritual principle into a practical daily practice.

The worksheet typically guides users through reflection prompts asking: “Was I resentful? Of who? Selfish? How? Dishonest? How? Fearful? Of what?” AA’s Big Book guidance emphasizes these specific questions as foundational to effective inventory work.

“Was I resentful? Of who? Selfish? How? Dishonest? How? Fearful? Of what?” These questions help individuals examine their behaviour, identify character defects, and recognise patterns that might otherwise resurface. Addiction recovery programs emphasise the importance of this daily practice as a preventative measure against relapse.

Unlike the broader personal inventory taken at Step 4, the Step 10 inventory is designed for daily use-typically completed each evening. It serves as an early warning system, helping individuals catch resentments, selfish thoughts, and dishonesty before they escalate into more serious relapse triggers. The form also documents moments of integrity and healthy behaviour, reinforcing progress and self-awareness.

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How to Use a 10 Step Inventory Worksheet

The 10 step inventory worksheet follows a structured format to guide daily reflection. Most forms dedicate space for date, time of completion, and a series of assessment questions that mirror the Step 10 principle of continued personal inventory.

1. Complete at end of day (preferably evening): Find a quiet moment to reflect on your day. Most practitioners recommend completing the inventory before bed, allowing you to address any outstanding issues before sleep. This timing supports better rest and prevents resentments from building overnight.
2. Answer core reflection questions honestly: Was I resentful today? Toward whom? Where was I selfish, dishonest, or fearful? The step 10 inventory focuses on examining one’s resentments, fears, selfishness, and dishonesty throughout each day. Address each question with complete candour: Was I resentful today? Toward whom? Where was I selfish, dishonest, or fearful? Write specific examples-vague answers defeat the purpose. Clinical experience shows that naming specific incidents strengthens awareness and accountability.
3. Document character defects and triggers: Note which character defects appeared during the day. Did impatience lead to conflict? Did fear prevent honest communication? Recording these patterns across weeks reveals cycles that therapy or peer support can address. Many practitioners also note external triggers (people, situations, places) that activated unhealthy responses.
4. Identify amends needed or apologies due: Use the worksheet to flag any behaviour requiring amends under Step 9. Write names and specific incidents. This creates a living action list rather than relying on memory, which can be selective during early recovery when denial is still a risk factor.
5. Celebrate moments of integrity and progress: Space the worksheet provides to note positive actions-times you acted with honesty, courage, or patience. Reinforcing these moments strengthens neural pathways associated with healthy behaviour and counters the shame narrative many people in recovery carry.

Completing the 10 step inventory worksheet typically takes 10-15 minutes. Multiple downloadable AA Step 10 worksheets are available to support both individual practice and group recovery settings.

allow therapy practices to distribute worksheets electronically, collect completed responses, and track patterns across multiple days or weeks. This data integration supports clinical supervision and progress monitoring without requiring handwritten storage.

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Distribute digital 10 step inventory worksheets to clients through secure patient portals. Track completion rates and integrate findings into clinical documentation.

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Who is the 10 Step Inventory Worksheet Helpful For?

The 10 step inventory worksheet serves multiple practitioner contexts beyond self-directed 12-step work. Mental health clinicians integrating 12-step principles into therapy use these worksheets to homework assignments, creating accountability between sessions. A therapist treating someone in early addiction recovery can reference completed inventories during sessions to explore patterns, triggers, and progress.

Addiction counsellors and recovery coaches in outpatient programmes and rehabilitation centres distribute these worksheets as part of structured group work. Many recovery homes and sober living facilities make daily inventory completion a house requirement, supporting collective accountability. The worksheet becomes evidence of engagement with recovery principles during clinical supervision.

Peer support specialists and recovery group facilitators use adapted versions during AA, NA, and OA meetings. Some groups photocopy standardised worksheets; others modify prompts to reflect their membership’s specific needs. A therapy practice serving diverse addiction populations (substance use, behavioural addictions, co-dependency) benefits from having multiple worksheet formats available.

Occupational therapists and integrated wellness practitioners working with individuals in recovery use the 10 step inventory as a structured self-reflection tool alongside other wellness practices. Clinics offering mental health and addiction recovery services often distribute these worksheets to reinforce daily practice and support continuity of care.

Benefits of Using a 10 Step Inventory Worksheet

Structured daily reflection prevents relapse triggers from building unaddressed. The worksheet creates a habit of examining thoughts and feelings in real time rather than allowing resentments, fear, and dishonesty to accumulate. Relapse prevention emphasises early intervention-catching problematic patterns before they escalate into active substance use or addictive behaviour.

Written documentation creates evidence of therapeutic engagement. For clinicians managing clients in recovery, completed worksheets demonstrate consistency, honesty, and willingness to engage with the recovery process. Documentation also protects the practice during clinical supervision or licensing reviews, showing measurable client participation in structured recovery work.

Accountability strengthens through consistent written practice. The act of writing-rather than thinking alone-activates different neural pathways and increases emotional honesty. Handwriting or typing responses requires more cognitive effort than internal reflection, reducing the influence of denial and self-deception common in early recovery.

Pattern recognition emerges across weeks of completed inventories. A single day’s inventory shows one snapshot; a month of worksheets reveals cycles. Clients and clinicians together can identify which situations, people, or times of day trigger resentment, dishonesty, or fear. This data-driven awareness enables targeted intervention and lifestyle adjustments.

Daily Inventory Practice in 12-Step Recovery Contexts

The 10 step inventory originates from Alcoholics Anonymous literature and the emphasis on continuous self-examination. Unlike the intensive moral inventory of Step 4, Step 10 asks individuals to maintain this practice “promptly” whenever character defects or resentments appear. The word “promptly” emphasises immediacy-addressing issues the same day rather than allowing them to fester.

Different 12-step programs adapt the Step 10 language slightly. The OA Unity Intergroup Step 10 worksheet demonstrates how Overeaters Anonymous customizes inventory questions for food-related recovery.

Narcotics Anonymous emphasises inventory of dishonest thinking. Overeaters Anonymous focuses on food-related resentments, character defects tied to eating patterns, and amends related to food-stealing or secretive behaviour. Client portal systems allow practices to customise worksheet language for different programme affiliations and populations.

Evening completion is standard, though some practitioners recommend a quick morning check-in before facing the day. A two-pass approach-reflecting on yesterday’s behaviour and setting intentions for today-provides both accountability and forward focus. Group facilitators sometimes use a 10-minute group check-in at meetings, where participants share inventory insights without violating anonymity principles.

Customising Worksheets for Different Addiction Contexts

While the core Step 10 questions remain consistent across programmes, effective worksheets adapt to specific addiction profiles. A recovery clinic serving individuals with substance use disorder may emphasise “cravings triggered and how I responded” as a key inventory section. A programme treating behavioural addictions (gambling, compulsive spending, relationship obsession) customises prompts around the specific addictive behaviour.

Trauma-informed practices often add a “safety check” section where clients rate felt safety and identify grounding techniques used during moments of fear or dysregulation. Clients with co-occurring mental health diagnoses benefit from worksheets integrating mood tracking, medication adherence notes, and sleep quality observations alongside traditional Step 10 inventory questions.

Multilingual recovery programmes need translated worksheets. Spanish, French, and other language versions ensure accessibility. Some practices create simplified versions for clients with literacy challenges or cognitive impairment, using visual aids, numbered lists, and shorter response prompts. AI-assisted clinical documentation tools can help standardise worksheet format while allowing flexible personalisation for each client’s needs.

Integration with Clinical Documentation and Care Coordination

Modern addiction recovery clinics integrate 10 step inventory worksheets into electronic health records (EHR) and practice management systems. Rather than storing handwritten forms in paper files, clients complete worksheets through secure patient portals. Clinicians access responses directly within their clinical notes, linking inventory findings to treatment progress, medication management, and peer support participation.

This integration creates a longitudinal record. A clinician reviewing three months of completed inventories can spot emerging patterns: increased resentment toward family members, escalating dishonesty, or character defects re-emerging after months of stability. The data informs treatment adjustments, therapy focus areas, and intensity of support needed. Supervision decisions-whether someone is ready to sponsor others or needs stepped-up care-gain evidence-based grounding.

Practices coordinating care with 12-step sponsors, therapists, and medical providers can securely share key inventory insights (with client consent) to ensure consistency across the recovery ecosystem. A physician prescribing medications for co-occurring anxiety benefits from seeing that a client’s fear-related inventory entries have decreased-evidence that both medical and spiritual interventions are working together.

Expert Picks

Looking to streamline recovery documentation? Digital forms for therapy practices eliminate paper clutter whilst preserving the integrity of step-work processes.

Need to track client engagement patterns? Mental health EMR software integrates inventory completion into your clinical dashboard, highlighting clients requiring additional support.

Want to automate client portal access? Secure client portals allow clients to submit completed worksheets remotely, reducing no-shows for administrative tasks.

Common Challenges and How to Address Them

Resistance to honesty in early recovery: Clients newly sober often understate or minimise inventory findings. A worksheet prompt asking “Was I dishonest?” meets with “No, I was fine.” Experienced practitioners normalise this resistance, reframing the inventory as practice in honesty rather than proof of perfection. Over weeks, as fear of judgment decreases, responses deepen. Group settings where others share inventory findings reduce shame and model transparency.

Difficulty identifying character defects: Not all clients have the psychological language to name patterns. “I felt bad about myself” requires translation into “I was ashamed” or “I was afraid.” Therapy practices benefit from providing prompts alongside open-ended questions. A tiered worksheet approach-offering multiple-choice options for clients who freeze on blank pages-increases usability without sacrificing depth.

Avoidance of amends planning: Some clients complete inventories but resist naming needed amends. Separating the inventory itself (self-examination) from Step 9 action (making amends) can help. The worksheet names who was harmed and how; the amends conversation happens separately with a sponsor or therapist. This distinction reduces shame-based avoidance.

Compliance gaps with daily practice: Worksheets sitting unsigned or uncompleted signal engagement problems. Digital reminders and accountability partnerships (buddy systems, sponsor check-ins) support consistency. Clinically, irregular completion warrants gentle inquiry: “Tell me about skipping Thursday and Friday-what was happening?” Often, the gaps reveal exactly what needs therapeutic attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you write a 10 step inventory?

Write clearly and honestly, naming specific incidents and the character defects involved. Focus on your own behaviour rather than blaming others. Use the provided prompts, answer each section completely, and include both areas requiring amends and moments showing progress in recovery.

How to do a 10 step inventory?

Set aside 10-15 minutes in a quiet space. Complete the form in the evening when emotions and interactions from the day are fresh. Write specific examples for each inventory question. End by identifying one or two actions: who needs an amends, and what character defect needs attention in therapy or group work.

What is step 10 principle?

Step 10 principle (“Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it”) emphasises daily self-examination and immediate amends. Unlike the historical inventory of Step 4, Step 10 is an ongoing practice throughout recovery, supporting relapse prevention through real-time awareness of character defects and resentments.

What is the 10th step process?

The 10th step process involves daily inventory work (usually evening), identification of character defects and resentments, acknowledgement of wrongs committed, planning of necessary amends, and celebration of moments of integrity. Most programmes complete this process nightly to prevent relapse triggers from accumulating.

Can I use a 10 step inventory worksheet in group settings?

Yes. Group recovery meetings often allocate time for individual worksheet completion followed by facilitated discussion (without naming others). Some programmes use group prompts where participants share insights without disclosing specific inventory content. Therapists leading group recovery work use worksheets to structure session agendas and track collective progress.

Is the 10 step inventory different for each 12-step programme?

The core principle is identical across AA, NA, OA, and other 12-step programmes. Specific prompts vary slightly-NA emphasises dishonest thinking, OA focuses on food-related resentments-but the self-examination, acknowledgement, and amends framework remains consistent. Most programmes provide official literature for their specific fellowship.

Conclusion

The 10 step inventory worksheet transforms a spiritual principle into a practical daily habit. Whether used in individual recovery work, group settings, or clinical therapy contexts, these worksheets support honest self-examination, early relapse prevention, and measurable progress. For addiction recovery practices, offering both printable and digital versions ensures accessibility and integration with modern clinical documentation systems.

Completing daily inventories requires courage and commitment. Over weeks and months, clients develop a skill-the ability to recognise character defects and resentments before they escalate into relapse triggers. That skill becomes embedded in recovery identity. The worksheet, simple as it appears, anchors one of the most transformative practices in addiction recovery.