Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
– Viktor E. Frankl
🌀 DBT Skills Training 🌀
I continue to be honored and delighted to work with my amazing adult
students (age 21+) on Tuesday nights, 7:30 to 9:00 PM EST in the
comfortable Zoom classroom. In the course of a year, my students grow,
learn and gain mastery over Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance,
Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills and Mindfulness skills. There are currently
a few spots open for the next semester. See details below.
|
DBT Calendar for INTERPERSONAL & MINDFULNESS SKILLS
Provisional Dates: |
October 21, 28 November 4, 11, 18, 25 December 2, 16, 23, 30, 2025 January 6, 13, 20, 27, 2026 Make-up sessions: |
| Interpersonal Effectiveness & Mindfulness | |
| FEES for 14-week
DBT program |
New students pay $1420 for the first 14-week semester, which includes an individual intake session. The continuing students pay $1120 ($80/week for a 90-minute group session).
Payment can be made by check or credit card. See the DBT FAQs page for details about using out-of-network insurance. Scroll down for course material information. |
| DEADLINE FOR ENROLLMENT PROCESS IS
10/20/25 | Complete all registration forms, Intake Sessions, and payments by 10/20/25. (This cannot be a last minute event, please connect at least a week before). |
Healing Through Music:
Playlist for DBT Interpersonal Skills Training
Music has been essential in my path to wellness, helping me process emotions with songs for milestones, change, grief, and loss. Here is a selection of songs curated for our upcoming Interpersonal Skills Training. This music has been chosen to align with the themes of the training, which focuses on developing confidence, emotional awareness, and healthy boundary-setting. Participants will work on communicating clearly, saying yes or no as intended, and doing so without guilt or regret as part of the learning process.
Wessan Playlist for DBT Interpersonal Skills Training | The Lighter Side of Transformation
“If you can recognize and accept your pain without running away from it, you will discover that although pain is there, joy can also be there at the same time.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh, No Mud, No Lotus
DBT provides psychoeducation, not group therapy.
For adults who like to learn and seek to gain mastery in Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Interpersonal Effectiveness and Emotion Regulation skills for peak performance in all areas of their life.
We cover one module per 14-week trimester. It takes one year to complete all three modules, although it is not required to sign up for the year. You can register for each module separately.
This is a highly structured academic program, with weekly handouts, worksheets and gentle goal setting. All sessions take place virtually through ZOOM.
Between classes, students are willing to commit to 5-10 minutes/day of DBT Skills practice. Students learn to share their feelings in relation to the DBT skills they are practicing.
This is not group therapy, where one person may talk for 30 minutes. Everyone gets a chance to speak, and we are mindful of the fair use of the time. Enrollment is limited to 12 students.
Space is limited, please enroll early!
Course Materials
We use Dr. Marsha Linehan’s DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets (3rd edition, August 2025, spiral bound paperback). This textbook is designed for use with a trained facilitator in a group setting, rather than for independent reading, as some sections require guidance and explanation.
Order your book with the link above or use this ISBN to ensure you get the
correct edition:
ISBN 978-1-4625-5634-2
Joy on Demand: The Art of Discovering the Happiness Within
by Chade-Meng Tan (2016)
Joy on Demand can support your DBT Mindfulness Training Skills and is available
in paperback, Kindle, or audio formats.
H.O.P.E. = HOLD ON, PAIN ENDS
For example, in this moment you are good enough and perfect as is, AND you could improve… both beliefs are equally true.
You could love someone and also hate someone.  Being able to hold BOTH conflicting emotions and not have a meltdown is key to DBT Skills practice.
Embracing the paradox, or dialectical thought, is healthier than fighting with the reality of it. We hold many dialectical beliefs in our minds which can be very stressful if not understood on this level.
YOUR DBT PERSONAL GROWTH CONTINUUM =
AWARENESS - ACCEPTANCE - ACTION!
DBT skills help you practice emotional regulation so you can blend acceptance with positive action plans to improve your life. Once you can accept yourself where you are, you can improve and go forward without shame, blame, regret and guilt. This is one of the benefits of working the DBT skills, to release your painful past and boldly go forward with more inner peace and stronger coping skills.
I have been honored to witness many DBT graduates practice better emotional regulation, gain mindful insights, take more positive actions and transform their lives with the power of DBT Skills.
It is exciting to witness these solution-focused sessions turn into amazing results for our group members. That’s why I love teaching DBT Skills!
Yes, there is a solution! You can do hard things, NEVER GIVE UP!
With Hope and Courage,
Lisa Wessan