10 Best DBT Books in 2024

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of psychotherapy developed by Marsha M. Linehan that focuses on teaching individuals skills to manage their emotions, tolerate distress, and maintain healthy relationships. Those who want to understand this therapy better and apply it can turn to DBT books.

Books on dialectical behavioral therapy offer an introduction to DBT skills along with practical exercises. Although primarily used with adults, DBT resources can be adapted for teens and children with the support of a parent or therapist [*].

10 Best DBT Books in 2024

Whether you are a mental health professional, someone seeking to experience the benefits of DBT, or a parent looking to support your child—below is a list of books that can guide you.

• Best DBT Book for Professionals - DBT Skills Training Manual
• Best DBT Book for Highly Sensitive Persons - DBT Skills for Highly Sensitive People: Make Emotional Sensitivity Your Superpower Using Dialectical Behavior Therapy
• Best DBT Book for Couples - The High Conflict Couple: A Dialectical Behavior Therapy Guide to Finding Peace, Intimacy, and Validation
• Best DBT Book for Eating Disorders -The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook For Bulimia
• Best DBT Skills Workbook for Kids - Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Kids: A DBT-Based Skills Workbook to Help Children Manage Mood Swings, Control Angry Outbursts, and Get Along with Others
• Best DBT Book for Parents - Parenting A Child Who Has Intense Emotions: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills To Help Your Child Regulate Emotional Outbursts And Aggressive Behaviors
• Best DBT Book for Clients with Bipolar Disorder - The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bipolar Disorder: Using DBT to Regain Control of Your Emotions & Your Life
• Best Book for Clients with BPD - The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook
• Best DBT Book for Teens with Anxiety - DBT Skills for Teens with Anxiety: Practical Strategies to Manage Stress and Strengthen Emotional Resilience
• Best Book for Neurodivergence - The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills

1. DBT Skills Training Manual - Marsha M. Linehan, Ph.D.

For professionals seeking an authoritative and comprehensive guide to Dialectical Behavior Therapy, the DBT Skills Training Manual by Dr. Marsha M. Linehan is one of the best DBT books to read. An indispensable resource for clinicians and therapists aiming to implement DBT in their practice, it has undergone constant revisions to reflect any clinical developments and significant research.

Price: From $69.99 on Amazon, $72.00 on Guilford Press

2. DBT Skills for Highly Sensitive People: Make Emotional Sensitivity Your Superpower Using Dialectical Behavior Therapy - Emma Lauer, LCSW

This book is designed for highly sensitive individuals who struggle with intense emotions and are often labeled as "too sensitive." It covers various aspects of emotional sensitivity, including understanding and regulating emotions, recognizing physical responses to difficult emotions, and developing self-soothing techniques. It also offers strategies for dealing with interactions that might feel too challenging.

Price: $16.80 on Amazon, $18.95 on New Harbinger Publications

3. The High Conflict Couple: A Dialectical Behavior Therapy Guide to Finding Peace, Intimacy, and Validation - Alan E. Fruzzetti, Ph.D.

All relationships go through difficulties, but it is possible to harness the techniques of DBT to help resolve conflicts that may arise. The High Conflict Couple allows couples to tame emotions that flare up in their relationship through relationship management skills such as negotiation. DBT in this context can help couples find true acceptance and closeness with one another.

Price: $15.37 on Amazon, $18.95 on New Harbinger Publications

4. The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook For Bulimia - Ellen Astrachan-Fletcher, Ph.D. and Michael Maslar, Psy.D.

This DBT book is an excellent resource that can help individuals overcome the upsetting emotions and self-perceptions caused by eating disorders. Focused on bulimia nervosa, which is characterized by a cycle of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain, it contains exercises that help with emotional control. It has been awarded The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Seal of Merit.

Price: $20.39 on Amazon, $27.95 on New Harbinger Publications

5. Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Kids: A DBT-Based Skills Workbook to Help Children Manage Mood Swings, Control Angry Outbursts, and Get Along with Others - Jennifer J. Solin PsyD, Christina Kress MSW LICSW

This book, "Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Kids," is a comprehensive DBT-based skills workbook designed for children aged 7 to 12 who struggle with anger, mood swings, and emotional and behavioral dysregulation. It features hands-on activities, including child-friendly mindfulness practices.

Price: $16.80 on Amazon, $18.95 on New Harbinger Publications

6. Parenting A Child Who Has Intense Emotions: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills To Help Your Child Regulate Emotional Outbursts And Aggressive Behaviors - Pat Harvey LCSW-C

Parenting a child or a teen with strong emotions can be quite challenging. This is one of the DBT books for parents that is especially helpful as it provides tools to help teens manage their emotions. They will also learn how to help teens make informed decisions about dealing with intense emotions and assist them in becoming more aware of their feelings.

Price: $14.99 on Amazon, $21.95 on New Harbinger Publications

7. The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bipolar Disorder: Using DBT to Regain Control of Your Emotions & Your Life - Sheri Van Dijk, MSW

Living with bipolar disorder can be especially challenging. You may have developed your own coping mechanisms to deal with recurring depressive and manic episodes. If you feel like you’ve been at the mercy of your emotions, then this DBT book is the one for you. According to one customer who read the book, they would specifically recommend it to others who either have bipolar disorder themselves or have loved ones with the condition.

Price: $20.49 on Amazon, $22.95 on New Harbinger Publications

8. The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook - Daniel J. Fox, Ph.D.

Receiving a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder can be painful to accept. People who find out they have BPD may often feel sadness, shame, and even shock. The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook gives an integrated approach to treating BPD. It uses evidence-based DBT, including other strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Price: $16.49 on Amazon, $24.95 on New Harbinger Publications

9. DBT Skills for Teens with Anxiety: Practical Strategies to Manage Stress and Strengthen Emotional Resilience - Atara Hiller PsyD

This book, "DBT Skills for Teens with Anxiety," offers practical therapy techniques from the five skills modules of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). It includes 14 ready-to-use DBT tool kits, as well as customizable worksheets and trackers. Teachers or educators can also use this book to help students regulate their emotions and behaviors in the classroom.

Price: From $12.04 on Amazon, $17.99 on Penguin Random House

10. The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills - Sonny Jane Wise

Neurodivergent individuals, such as those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, dyslexia, or other neurological differences, often deal with environments that may not accommodate their needs. This is where this DBT book comes in. Here, individuals learn how to notice their meltdown triggers, meet their sensory needs, and prevent sensory overload.

Price: $15.58 on Amazon, $10.00 on Lived Experience Educator

Summary

The availability of DBT books can be very reassuring for those dealing with intense emotions. Aside from using the abovementioned books as tools for healing and personal growth, you can give them as thoughtful gifts for friends and loved ones.

DBT's ability to improve a person’s coping skills makes the world a more supportive place for all. Need more practical exercises for lasting change? Check out our DBT Worksheets Collection.

References:

1. Perepletchikova, F., Axelrod, S. R., Kaufman, J., Rounsaville, B. J., Douglas-Palumberi, H., & Miller, A. L. (2011). Adapting Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Children: Towards a New Research Agenda for Paediatric Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behaviours. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 16(2), 116. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-3588.2010.00583.x