Managing emotions, handling stress, and building good relationships all take practice. Some clients learn these skills naturally, while others need support to know how to stay calm, make smart choices, and talk to others kindly. That’s why Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is helpful — it teaches clear steps to help clients as they start dealing with difficult feelings and social situations.
The DBT Skills Introduction handout discusses the five core skills in DBT: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and walking the middle path. It explains what DBT is, how it helps, and describes each skill. This handout can be used alongside DBT therapy or on its own by anyone experiencing strong feelings or struggling with relationship challenges.
By learning these skills, kids and teens can better deal with tough moments and build better friendships. After learning each skill, they can dive deeper into the individual DBT skills that are most relevant to their situation.
They can set a goal to try one skill in a challenging situation each week, and reflect on how the skill helped them at the end of each day.
*This item is an instant digital download. A link to download your files will be emailed to you once payment is confirmed.
Our What Is DBT handout also offers a brief introduction to DBT and its core principles.
Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of DBT worksheets and handout.
References:
- Day, C. M., Smith, A., Short, E. J., & Bater, L. (2021). Dialectical behavior therapy skills groups for youth in schools: A systematic review. Adolescent Research Review, 7(2), 267-284. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-021-00155-4
- MacPherson, H. A., Cheavens, J. S., & Fristad, M. A. (2012). Dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents: Theory, treatment adaptations, and empirical outcomes. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 16(1), 59-80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-012-0126-7
- Perepletchikova, F., Axelrod, S. R., Kaufman, J., Rounsaville, B. J., Douglas-Palumberi, H., & Miller, A. L. (2010). 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), 116-121. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-3588.2010.00583.x
