DBT Therapeutic Activity Ideas for Working with Teens: Skills and Exercises for Working with Clients with Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, and Other Emotional Sensitivities

This fun and engaging activity book helps to teach teens to manage emotions and develop relationships by tracking their progress using Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) techniques. DBT is specifically designed for emotionally sensitive young people, especially those with borderline personality disorder, and the activities in this book will help regulate strong emotional responses which can lead to impulsivity, unstable relationships, low self-image and reactive emotions.

It is a concise and easy-to-read resource, accompanied by vignettes and activity sheets. It presents an overview of the four modules of DBT: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills used in these modules can be logged and monitored through the tick lists and diary cards provided. These practical tools and ideas are reproducible, and will be invaluable for anyone working with teens.

Table of Contents

Introduction

PART I: What is DBT?

1. What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?
2. Biosocial Theory
3. The "D" in DBT
4. DBT Acronyms
5. DBT is a Lifestyle
6. Diary Cards
7. Lists, Information, and Suggestions

PART II: Mindfulness

1. What is Mindfuless?;
2. WHAT Skills
3. HOW Skills
4. Mindfulness Activities
5. Grounding Techniques
6. Coloring Sheets
7. Three States of Mind

PART III: Distress Tolerance;

1. What is Distress Tolerance or DT?
2. Self-Soothing
3. Wise Mind ACCEPTS
4. IMPROVE the Moment
5. STOP Skill
6. TIP Skills
7. Pros and Cons
8. Willingness vs. Willfulness
9. Turning the Mind
10. Radical Acceptance. A. Choosing to Accept Reality. B. Reality Acceptance, Steps
11. Half Smiling

PART IV: Emotion Regulation

1. What is Emotion Regulation or ER?
2. Exploring and Knowing My Emotions
3. ABC Skills. A. Accumulate Positives. B. Build Mastery. C. Cope Ahead
4. Riding the Wave
5. Opposite Action
6. PLEASE
7. Lemonade

PART V: Interpersonal Effectiveness

1. What is Interpersonal Effectiveness or IE?
2. Repairs
3. TAPS
4. THINK
5. The 4 Horsemen
6. GIVE
7. FAST

References