As the demand for evidence-based, skill-focused mental health care continues to rise, more clinicians are turning to Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) to meet the needs of clients dealing with emotional dysregulation, chronic distress, and complex trauma. But becoming a fully adherent DBT provider requires significant time, structure, and team support, something not all clinicians or organisations can take on immediately.
Enter the DBT-informed practice: a flexible, powerful way to integrate DBT principles and skills into your work while still honouring your current clinical structure.
In this article, we’ll break down what it means to have a DBT-informed practice, what training and tools are essential, and how to ethically and effectively bring DBT into your clinical setting. There are four modules of DBT.
What Is a DBT-Informed Practice?
A DBT-informed practice refers to using the principles, strategies, and skills from DBT therapy without necessarily delivering a full, adherent DBT model. This may include:
- Teaching DBT skills(like mindfulness or distress tolerance)
- Using a validation and problem-solving approach
- Applying the dialectical framework (balancing acceptance and change)
- Incorporating behaviour chain analysis or diary cards
- Working with high-emotion clients using DBT strategies
You may not offer all components of standard DBT (e.g., group skills, 24/7 coaching, or consultation teams), but you’re using its core concepts intentionally and ethically.
Who Benefits From a DBT-Informed Approach?
A DBT-informed practice is particularly helpful for:
- Clients with emotional dysregulation who don’t require full-model DBT
- Teens and young adults struggling with impulsivity, identity issues, or intense emotions
- Clients with trauma histories, ADHD, anxiety, or depression
- High-conflict couples or families
- Individuals not ready for full DBT but open to skills work
Core Components of a DBT-Informed Practice
You don’t need to be Linehan-certified to start integrating DBT. But to do it responsibly, here are the key components you should include:
1. DBT Skills Training
Begin by learning and teaching the four core skills modules:
- Mindfulness – Building present-moment awareness and nonjudgmental observation
- Distress Tolerance – Crisis survival strategies to prevent harmful behaviors
- Emotion Regulation -Tools to name, track, and manage emotions
- Interpersonal Effectiveness – Assertiveness and boundary-setting without damaging relationships
Tip: Many clinicians start by offering DBT-informed skills groups or integrating specific skills into one-on-one sessions.
2. Dialectical Framework
At the heart of DBT is dialectics, holding two seemingly opposite truths at once. For example:
“I accept myself as I am, and I need to change.”
Using dialectics helps reduce client defensiveness and builds trust by validating both experience and growth.
3. Validation Strategies
DBT emphasises validation to connect and regulate before diving into change-based work. Learn how to validate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors at different levels (from simply listening to recognising how a reaction makes sense in context).
4. Behavioral Chain Analysis
This technique helps clients identify the antecedents, behaviors, and consequences of problematic patterns, and opens the door to building new, more effective responses.
5. Ethical Clarity and Scope
It’s essential to be transparent about what you do and don’t offer. If you’re not providing full-model DBT (individual therapy, skills group, phone coaching, team consultation), clarify that you’re DBT-informed, not DBT-comprehensive.
Recommended Training for DBT-Informed Clinicians
While full certification is not required to be DBT-informed, some training is essential to ensure fidelity and ethical care. Look for:
- Foundational DBT workshops (e.g., through Behavioral Tech or PESI)
- Online DBT courses with CEUs
- DBT skills manuals (like Linehan’s DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets)
- Clinical consultation with DBT-trained supervisors
- Self-study of core DBT texts (Linehan’s Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder)
Building Your DBT-Informed Practice: Step-by-Step
- Assess your client population – Do they present with high emotionality, impulsivity, or trauma?
- Start with skills training – Consider running a DBT-informed group or integrating worksheets into sessions.
- Use structured tools – Chain analysis, diary cards, and the DBT skills workbook can help with accountability and clarity.
- Join a consultation group – Even if it’s not a formal DBT team, having peer support for tough cases is essential.
- Stay in your scope – Market your services honestly and refer to full DBT programs when appropriate.
Final Thoughts: The Power of Being DBT-Informed
You don’t need to become a certified DBT therapist to offer meaningful, effective help. A DBT-informed approach allows you to meet clients where they are with compassion, structure, and powerful emotional skills.
Whether you’re in private practice, a school, a hospital, or a community clinic, building a DBT-informed practice can transform your work and the lives of the clients you serve.
