Why DBT Skills Matter and Why This Free Training Is Worth Your Time
- Letecia Griffin

- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
#MentalHealthProfessionals #TherapistTools #ClinicianResources #PsychologyTools #TherapySkills #DBTSkills #DialecticalBehaviorTherapy #DBTForClinicians #EmotionRegulation #DistressTolerance #ProfessionalDevelopment

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Heads up: This one’s mainly for those in my audience who provide psychotherapy services (i.e. therapists, social workers, psychologists, nurse practitioners, and other mental health professionals). If you’re reading as a client or just curious, the ideas can still be interesting, but they aren’t a substitute for personal mental health care. |
If you have worked with clients for any length of time, you have probably noticed something important. Insight alone does not always lead to change. Many clients understand their trauma history. They can name their anxiety, depression, or patterns of self-sabotage. They often know exactly why they feel the way they do. And yet, when emotions spike or distress takes over, everything they understand intellectually seems to disappear. This is one of the reasons Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, can be such a powerful tool in your helping toolkit.
Why DBT Continues to Be So Effective

DBT is grounded in skills, and that matters more than we sometimes realize. For many clients, change-based approaches can feel overwhelming or discouraging, especially when they are already operating in survival mode. DBT shifts the focus toward practical tools clients can use in real time. The goal is not perfection or constant emotional control, but learning how to respond more effectively when life feels intense.
DBT has been shown to be effective for individuals experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, eating disorders, chronic emotional dysregulation, and suicidal or self-injurious behaviors. Its strength lies in its balance. Clients learn how to accept their emotional experiences while also developing healthier ways to cope and move forward. This combination of acceptance and change often makes DBT feel more emotionally accessible for both clients and clinicians.
What DBT Brings into the Therapy Room

When clinicians are trained in DBT, therapy often becomes more structured, grounding, and empowering. DBT offers concrete tools that help clients:
Manage intense emotions without becoming overwhelmed
Tolerate distress without shutting down or acting impulsively
Interrupt self-defeating and self-sabotaging patterns
Improve communication and boundary setting
Build healthier coping strategies that can be used outside of session
DBT skills can be integrated into individual therapy, skills groups, or blended into existing treatment approaches. You do not need to practice full-model DBT to see meaningful benefits. Even learning core techniques can make a noticeable difference in how clients engage with therapy and with their own emotional worlds.
IFS-Informed Note: |
Even for therapists and coaches who practice primarily from an Internal Family Systems perspective, DBT often fits more naturally than expected. From an IFS lens, DBT skills can be understood as tools that help parts feel safer and less reactive, especially when a system is flooded or focused on survival. Skills like mindfulness, validation, radical acceptance, and Wise Mind create enough stability for Self-energy to stay present and lead. Rather than replacing inner work, DBT supports it by creating the conditions that make deeper, Self-led healing possible. |
A Free Opportunity to Learn Core DBT Skills

This is why I want to share a free training opportunity that feels especially valuable for clinicians. The (affiliate link) DBT Crash Course for Clinicians is a live online training designed to teach practical, usable DBT techniques without unnecessary complexity or overwhelm. The training is led by Alexa Mulee, LMHC, C-DBT, a certified DBT therapist with nearly a decade of experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Whether you work with trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use, or clients who struggle with emotional regulation, DBT has been trusted by clinicians across settings to help clients manage distress, regulate emotions, and build healthier relationships.
During this training, you will learn how to:
Provide clients with tools to manage intense emotions
Teach distress tolerance skills that can be used in everyday life
Strengthen therapeutic rapport through validation strategies
Improve communication and boundary setting skills
Help clients build healthier emotional connections
Apply DBT techniques across a range of diagnoses and clinical presentations
You will also receive printable worksheets so you can begin using these skills with clients right away, without needing to recreate or reinvent materials.
What If You Cannot Attend Live?

If you cannot attend the live training, registering still gives you fourteen days of free access to the recording. This makes it easier to learn at your own pace and revisit material as needed. For clinicians who need continuing education credits or want to deepen their learning, there are optional upgrade packages available. These include CE hours, a comprehensive DBT skills manual, and a bonus training focused on building strong therapeutic relationships and repairing alliance ruptures. This flexibility allows you to choose the level of engagement that fits your professional needs and your current season.
Ready to Learn These DBT Skills for Yourself?

If DBT has been on your radar, or if you find yourself working with clients who need more support regulating emotions, tolerating distress, or staying grounded between sessions, this training is a solid place to begin. I am sharing this free DBT Crash Course because I genuinely believe it offers practical, usable tools that respect both the complexity of our clients and the realities of our work. You do not need to practice full-model DBT to benefit from this training. Even a handful of these skills can make a meaningful difference in how supported your clients feel and how confident you feel in the room. You can register for the free live training using the link below. If you cannot attend live, you will still receive fourteen days of free access to the recording. Optional CE upgrades are available if that is something you need right now.
DBT remains one of the most practical and compassionate approaches available to clinicians today. Whether you are newer to DBT or looking to strengthen your existing skills, this free training offers an accessible way to expand your toolkit and better support the clients you serve. High-quality clinical training that is both accessible and grounded in real-world application is rare. If DBT has been on your list of approaches to explore or revisit, this is a meaningful place to start. And please remember that wherever you are on this wellness journey, do not worry about getting it perfect; just get it going. Until next time. Happy reading!
Affiliate Links |
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“Wisdom and freedom require the ability to allow the natural flow of emotions to come and go, experiencing emotions but not being controlled by emotions.” ~Marsha Linehan
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