The DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Second Edition, is a companion volume to Marsha M. Linehan’s DBT Skills Training Manual. It contains over 225 reproducible handouts and worksheets designed to help therapists teach and reinforce Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills to clients. These materials are essential for clients to practice mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance outside of therapy sessions.

This resource provides therapists with practical tools to help clients learn, apply, and master DBT skills. The worksheets and handouts are designed to:

• Reinforce skills taught in therapy sessions or DBT skills training groups.
• Provide structured exercises for practicing DBT techniques in daily life.
• Enhance client engagement by offering clear, easy-to-follow instructions.

The book is intended for:

• Therapists and counselors: To use as a supplement during individual or group therapy sessions.
• Clients: To practice DBT skills between sessions with guided exercises.
• Educators: To teach DBT concepts in academic or training settings.
• Caregivers or family members: To better understand DBT skills and support loved ones in treatment.

While the DBT Skills Training Manual provides detailed instructions for teaching DBT skills, this companion volume focuses exclusively on the handouts and worksheets used during therapy sessions. It allows therapists to easily distribute materials to clients without needing to photocopy pages from the manual.

The worksheets cover all four core modules of DBT:

1. Mindfulness: Exercises to improve present-moment awareness and nonjudgmental observation of thoughts, emotions, and surroundings.
2. Interpersonal Effectiveness: Tools for improving communication, setting boundaries, and maintaining healthy relationships using frameworks like DEAR MAN, GIVE, and FAST.
3. Emotion Regulation: Strategies for identifying emotions, reducing vulnerability to intense emotions, and managing emotional responses effectively.
4. Distress Tolerance: Techniques for surviving crises without making the situation worse, including distraction, self-soothing, radical acceptance, and TIP (Temperature, Intense Exercise, Paced Breathing).

The Second Edition includes:

• Over 225 updated handouts and worksheets with clearer language and improved formatting.
• Expanded content for emotion regulation skills such as opposite action and problem-solving techniques.
• New mindfulness exercises tailored to different learning styles (e.g., visual learners).
• Alternative versions of popular worksheets to meet diverse client needs (e.g., adolescents or clients with substance use disorders).

Yes, all handouts and worksheets are reproducible for clinical use. Therapists can photocopy or print them as needed for individual or group sessions.

Therapists can use the handouts and worksheets to:

• Teach new DBT skills during individual or group therapy sessions.
• Assign specific worksheets as homework for clients to practice between sessions.
• Track client progress by reviewing completed worksheets together in therapy.

Yes! The handouts are written in clear, client-friendly language that allows individuals to use them independently or with minimal guidance from a therapist.

Absolutely! The handouts are specifically designed to be used in DBT skills training groups but can also be adapted for individual therapy settings.

The handouts and worksheets are ideal for individuals struggling with:

• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
• Emotional dysregulation or mood swings
• Chronic suicidal ideation or self-harm behaviors
• Anxiety disorders or depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or trauma-related symptoms
• Substance use disorders or eating disorders

Yes! The Second Edition includes age-appropriate language and simplified exercises for adolescents. It also provides alternative versions of worksheets tailored to specific populations such as clients with substance use issues.

The book’s spiral-bound format makes it easy to use during therapy sessions without damaging pages. Each worksheet is clearly labeled by module and skill type, making it simple to find relevant materials quickly.

The worksheets encourage clients to apply DBT skills in real-world situations by providing practical scenarios, reflective questions, and step-by-step exercises.

Yes! Dialectical Behavior Therapy is one of the most researched therapeutic approaches for treating emotional dysregulation and related disorders. The handouts and worksheets are based on decades of clinical research conducted by Marsha M. Linehan and other leading experts in the field.

While the original publication is in English, translations of DBT materials are available in several languages. Check with the publisher for the most up-to-date information on translations.

Yes, therapists are encouraged to adapt the materials to meet the specific needs of their clients. However, it's important to maintain the core DBT principles and skills when making modifications.

Therapists can customize examples, language, and scenarios to be more culturally relevant. The Second Edition provides some alternative worksheets that can serve as models for cultural adaptation.

The Mindfulness module includes handouts and worksheets on:

• "What" skills (Observe, Describe, Participate)
• "How" skills (Non-judgmentally, One-mindfully, Effectively)
• Mindfulness practice exercises
• Wise Mind concept

The Interpersonal Effectiveness module covers:

• DEAR MAN (Describe, Express, Assert, Reinforce, Mindful, Appear confident, Negotiate)
• GIVE (Gentle, Interested, Validate, Easy manner)
• FAST (Fair, Apologies, Stick to values, Truthful)
• Relationship effectiveness skills

The Emotion Regulation module provides materials on:

• Identifying and labeling emotions
• Understanding the function of emotions
• Reducing vulnerability to emotional mind
• Opposite action skills
• Problem-solving techniques

The Distress Tolerance module includes handouts and worksheets on:

• Crisis survival strategies (STOP, TIPP, Distract, Self-soothe)
• Pros and cons
• Radical acceptance
• Willingness vs. Willfulness

The frequency depends on the individual treatment plan. Typically, clients are encouraged to practice skills daily and complete relevant worksheets between therapy sessions.

Therapists can review completed worksheets with clients to assess skill acquisition and application. Some worksheets include rating scales or tracking forms to monitor progress over time.

While DBT is generally safe and effective, some clients may find certain exercises challenging. Therapists should use clinical judgment and adapt materials as needed, especially for clients with severe cognitive impairments or acute crisis situations.

While formal DBT certification is not required to use these materials, it's highly recommended that therapists receive training in DBT principles and techniques to ensure effective implementation.

Training options include:

• Workshops and intensive training programs offered by Behavioral Tech (founded by Marsha Linehan)
• Online courses and webinars from accredited providers
• University-based DBT training programs
• Supervision from certified DBT practitioners

While the handouts and worksheets themselves haven't been individually studied, they are based on the well-researched DBT model. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of DBT in treating various mental health conditions, particularly borderline personality disorder.

These materials enhance treatment by:

Providing structured practice of DBT skills
Increasing client engagement and homework compliance
Facilitating skill generalization to real-life situations
Offering concrete tools for emotion regulation and distress tolerance

Major updates typically occur with new editions of the manual, which are published approximately every 10-15 years. However, minor revisions or additional resources may be made available through the publisher's website between editions.

While there are no current announcements regarding a Third Edition, the field of DBT continues to evolve. Future editions may incorporate new research findings and clinical innovations as they emerge. This continuation of the FAQ provides more detailed information about the DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Second Edition, addressing practical aspects of implementation, specific skill modules, and the broader context of DBT practice and research.