Resources

Books/Writing My book Self-Directed DBT Skills: 3-Month DBT Workbook* provides instructions and concrete practices for all of the core DBT skills. My deck of DBT Coping Cards* breaks down the skills into even smaller bites, for folks who don't want to commit to a full workbook. This page* has my other favorite books on DBT skills. Audio-Visual The DBT-RU YouTube channel (from the Rutgers University DBT program run by Dr. Shireen Rizvi) provides dozens of short, animated videos teaching DBT skills. I have a YouTube Channel with videos about DBT skills and other mental health information. The Therapists in the Wild podcast, hosted by two intensively trained DBT therapists, discusses many of the DBT skills and provides real-life examples of how the skills work in the therapists' lives. They've finished recording episodes (sadly!), but it's still a great podcast for learning. The To Hell and Back podcast, hosted by an expert DBT psychiatrist Dr. Charlie Swenson, focuses on how DBT can help people cope with the stressors and tragedies that life throws at them. Other Now Matters Now offers videos, peer support groups, and other resources for learning DBT skills. Therahive is an online DBT skills group with coaching, if you want some structured support! The DBT Self-Help sub-Reddit can provide some support during self-learning. DBTSelfHelp.com is one of the largest websites online with free DBT resources. If you struggle with applying the skills to your life, a DBT therapist could help. Check out the next FAQ below for information on finding a therapist. *These links are affiliate links, and I may receive a commission if you purchase through them.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was originally created to treat borderline personality disorder, but it can help many people who struggle to understand or cope with their emotions. Decades of research show DBT can help people with PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, some eating disorders, substance abuse, and other diagnoses. It also can help Autistic and ADHD adults struggling with emotional difficulties. DBT is likely helpful for so many people because it teaches dozens of concrete coping skills. DBT Skills are life skills. They cover emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and mindfulness techniques. I believe DBT skills can help anyone improve their mental health and general wellness. (Some research supports that belief, too.) They're certainly helped me! This blog post explains more. You could also Watch this video provides a brief overall description of what DBT actually looks like. Or, Listen to this podcast between Dr. Peter Attia and DBT expert Dr. Shireen Rizvi. Finally, check out the Research on DBT. (This is a public annotated bibliography I keep of the research that I reference most in my content, or that I just find interesting.)

Check out this Google doc for a ton of mental health resources, including online directories for finding therapists. If you want to find a DBT therapist specifically: You can read my Psychology Today post about 7 questions to ask a therapist to be more confident about whether you're getting adherent DBT, the evidence-based treatment for BPD, (c)PTSD, and several other mental health diagnoses. The Linehan Board of Certification provides a directory of expert DBT clinicians. To become an DBT-LBC-certified clinician, a therapist must pass a written exam and have videos of actual therapy sessions reviewed by other expert DBT therapists. (Note: not all qualified DBT therapists are DBT-LBC-certified.) Behavioral Tech provides a directory of all clinicians who have attended one of their excellent intensive trainings in adherent DBT. (Note: not all qualified DBT therapist have been intensively trained by BTech.) The Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) has a clinician directory for CBT therapists. All of these clinicians are members of ABCT, which signifies a dedication to providing evidence-based treatments, even if they're not DBT experts specifically. DBT is a specific therapy under the larger "CBT umbrella." A CBT or "DBT-informed" therapist may be helpful for you are struggling with anxiety, depression, OCD, or PTSD (for example). Psychology Today has one of the best comprehensive directories for finding clinicians of all kinds. But, be aware: therapists pay to be listed on this site and are in charge of creating their own profiles. Psychology Today only confirms current licensure, not any of the rest of a therapist's bio. Many therapists who list DBT as one of their specialties on PsychToday may not actually provide adherent DBT. So use those 7 questions in the article I mention above! Keep in mind if you're in the US: Most (but not all) states support a new initiative called PSYPACT. Psychologists in PSYPACT states can apply to provide telepsych therapy to people who live in other PSYPACT states. So, even if there isn't an adherent DBT clinician or program with availability physically near you, you may be able to work with a PSYPACT-approved psychologist from another state if you live in a PSYPACT state. To find out which states are in PSYPACT, see this map! There's no directory of clinicians, so you'll have to ask any therapists you find whether they are able and willing to use PSYPACT to see you virtually.

So cool! It's a very fulfilling career. DBT is a very complex therapy to practice as a clinician. I recommend you start by learning the basics about the therapy and the skills, to see if it resonates with you. My writing/videos and the various free resources on the rest of this page are useful places to start. From there, this Amazon list* includes my book recommendations for becoming a DBT therapist. If you're still interested after learning the DBT basics, you'll probably need to take an intensive clinical training. Of the trainings I've attended, Behavioral Tech was the best one. BTech was founded by Dr. Marsha Linehan (the creator of DBT) and many of the BTech trainers have been trained by her. Several BTech intensive trainings also offer direct consultation with DBT expert therapists! Fair warning: like many clinical trainings, it can be expensive. No matter what training you decide to get (or not), you'll have to learn the DBT skills. There's no better knowledge for teaching the skills than having practiced them all yourself! My book* is written to help anyone (including clinicians) learn the skills, and I recommend a ton of other free resources for learning DBT skills in the first FAQ section above. I may offer trainings in the future. If I do, I will announce them through my newsletter—sign up below! (*These links are affiliate links; I may receive a commission on qualifying purchases made through them.)