DBT Skills Essentials

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, November 9 - Tuesday, November 10, 2026 10am - 6pm ET / 8am - 4pm MT Register Here

This 2-day course provides in depth coverage of the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills. The training combines didactic teaching, experiential exercises, skills practice, and discussion around clinical application. The goal of this course is not simply to learn a collection of DBT skills, but to develop an understanding of when, why, and how to use them in clinical practice and everyday life.

The Four Core DBT Skills Modules

Throughout the two days, we will move through:

MINDFULNESS Notice what's happening.

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DISTRESS TOLERANCE Get through difficult moments without making them worse.

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EMOTION REGULATION Understand and change emotional responses.

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INTERPERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS Use these skills effectively with other people.

In addition to learning the DBT skills, the course begins with an overview of DBT as a therapeutic modality.

Course Outline*

Day 1

Mindfulness & Distress Tolerance

Welcome & Orientation to DBT

Mindfulness

• Goals of Mindfulness

• Wise Mind

• What Skills: Observe, Describe, Participate

• How Skills: Nonjudgmentally, One-Mindfully, Effectively

Distress Tolerance I

Surviving the Crisis

• Goals of Distress Tolerance

• When and how to use crisis-survival skills

• STOP

• TIP

Distress Tolerance II

Getting Through the Moment

• Distract

• Self-Soothe

• Improve the Moment

• Choosing skills that fit the situation

Distress Tolerance III

Acceptance

• Radical Acceptance

• Acceptance versus approval

• Barriers to acceptance

Distress Tolerance IV

Practicing Willingness

• Willingness

• Half Smile

• Willing Hands

• Willingness versus willfulness

• Integrating acceptance and willingness

Day 2

Emotion Regulation & Interpersonal Effectiveness

Day 1 Review & Mindfulness Practice

• Brief mindfulness practice

• Review and questions

Emotion Regulation I

Understanding Emotions

• Goals of Emotion Regulation

• Understanding and labelling emotions

• Myths about emotions

• Model for Describing Emotions

Emotion Regulation II

Changing Emotional Responses

• Check the Facts

• Opposite Action

• Problem Solving

Emotion Regulation III

Building Emotional Resilience

• Accumulating Positives: short- and long-term

• Build Mastery

• Cope Ahead

Interpersonal Effectiveness I

Understanding & Getting Your Needs Met

• Factors that interfere with interpersonal effectiveness

• Clarifying goals in interpersonal situations

• Objective, relationship, and self-respect effectiveness

• DEAR MAN

Interpersonal Effectiveness II

Maintaining Relationships & Self-Respect

• GIVE: maintaining relationships

• FAST: maintaining self-respect

• Balancing competing interpersonal goals

• Integrating skills across situations

Integration & Closing

• Bringing the four DBT skills modules together

• Applying skills to clinical practice

• Key takeaways

• Questions and discussion

• Closing

Each training day includes two scheduled breaks (approx. 15 mins) and a one-hour lunch break.

 *The course agenda and schedule are subject to change. DBT HOUSE reserves the right to modify the content, timing, or sequence of sessions as needed to support the learning experience and flow of the training.

What You'll Gain:

By the end of the course, participants will have:

• A practical understanding of the four core DBT skills modules and how they fit together.

• A framework for knowing which DBT skill to use, when to use it, and why.

• Practical strategies for helping clients navigate crises, tolerate distress, regulate emotions, and improve relationships.

• Increased confidence in teaching and applying DBT skills in clinical practice.

• Experience using DBT skills through guided exercises, discussion, case examples, and role-play.

• A set of practical DBT tools and strategies that can be incorporated into clinical work immediately.

• A Certificate of Completion (assuming all course requirements have been met)

Required Text:  DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Revised Edition, 2025. Participants may consider purchasing the DBT Skills Training Manual as well; this is especially recommended if you intend on leading a DBT Skills Group.

Regarding Attendance: To receive a certificate of attendance, participants are expected to attend all sessions in full. We also ask that participants keep their cameras on throughout the training, barring technical difficulties or accessibility considerations.

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, November 9 - Tuesday, November 10, 2026 10am - 6pm ET / 8am - 4pm MT

Register Here