Therapy Guides · Dr Meera
DBT Made Simple
Understand feelings, learn the skill families and see how acceptance and change work together.
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This guide explains a therapy approach for learning. It does not replace personal therapy, clinical training or supervision, and does not give you a professional qualification. Use clinical methods only within your training and role.
Follow Asha and her mentor through fictional everyday moments. The aim is to understand the model, not to diagnose Asha or learn to treat a friend or client from a short guide.
1. Two ideas together
Accept what is here AND work towards change.
Asha's clay bowl collapses. She can recognise her disappointment and choose a helpful next step.
Acceptance AND change—not either/or
Acceptance
“The bowl collapsed. I feel disappointed. This mattered to me.”
Change
“I can ask for help and reshape the clay.”
Validation means showing you understand what makes sense in someone's experience: “Your disappointment makes sense. You worked hard on this.”
Go deeper: full teaching notes
TWO IDEAS, TOGETHER
Acceptance and change
DBT means Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. It brings together two ideas: accepting what is here AND working towards change.
THE MOMENT: Asha's clay bowl has collapsed while she is making it.
Acceptance: Notice what is here. "The bowl collapsed. I feel disappointed. This mattered to me."
AND
Change: Choose a helpful step. "I can ask for help and reshape the clay."
I can feel disappointed AND take a next step.
Validation: show you understand. Recognise what makes sense in someone's experience. "Your disappointment makes sense. You worked hard on this."
REMEMBER: Understanding a feeling does not mean approving every action.
Sources: [1] [2]
Sources and further learning
The source references were checked on 10 September 2026. The Linehan books consulted were the 2015 second editions—not the 2025 revised editions.
THE IDEAS BEHIND THIS GUIDE
Sources and further learning
Numbers match the sources on each teaching page.
Choose one source to explore: Open a numbered link below. The books offer detail beyond this short introduction. The Linehan sources consulted are the 2015 second editions, not the 2025 revised editions.
Model, context and research.
[1] MODEL: DBT-Linehan Board of Certification. (n.d.). What is DBT?
[3] CONTEXT: Behavioral Tech Institute. (2019, April 23). The Role of Emotion Regulation in DBT (Part 2). Interview with Sara Schmidt.
[4] RESEARCH: Landes, S. J., Matthieu, M. M., Smith, B. N., McBain, S. A., & Ray, E. S. (2021). Challenges and Potential Solutions to Implementing Phone Coaching in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 28(1), 66-76. DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpra.2019.10.005.
TEACHING NOTES: Linehan, M. M. (2015). DBT Skills Training Manual (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
[2] Chapter 8: Interpersonal effectiveness. DEAR MAN, GIVE, FAST and validation.
[5] Chapter 7: Mindfulness. Mindfulness skills and Wise Mind.
[8] Chapter 10: Distress tolerance. STOP, TIP and medical precautions.
[9] Chapter 9: Emotion regulation. Facts, opposite action and body care.
HANDOUTS: Linehan, M. M. (2015). DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
[6] General Handouts 7 and 7a: Chain analysis.
[7] Distress Tolerance Handouts 4, 6, 11-11b: STOP, TIP and radical acceptance.
[10] Emotion Regulation Handouts 14 and 20: Vulnerability and body care.
[11] Interpersonal Effectiveness Handouts 6 and 7: GIVE and FAST.
References checked 10 September 2026. n.d. = no publication date shown.
Follow the original sources
These links were supplied with the guide. A source can use more technical words than this introduction.
- DBT-Linehan Board of Certification: What Is DBT?
- Marsha Linehan (2015): DBT Skills Training Manual, Second Edition - Chapter 8, Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Behavioral Tech Institute (2019): The Role of Emotion Regulation in DBT, Part 2 - Interview with Sara Schmidt
- Landes and Colleagues (2021): Challenges and Potential Solutions to Implementing Phone Coaching in DBT
- Marsha Linehan (2015): DBT Skills Training Manual, Second Edition - Chapter 7, Mindfulness and Wise Mind
- Marsha Linehan (2015): General Handouts 7 and 7a - Chain Analysis
- Marsha Linehan (2015): Distress Tolerance Handouts 4, 6 and 11-11b - STOP, TIP and Radical Acceptance
- Marsha Linehan (2015): DBT Skills Training Manual, Second Edition - Chapter 10, Distress Tolerance and Medical Precautions
- Marsha Linehan (2015): DBT Skills Training Manual, Second Edition - Chapter 9, Facts, Opposite Action and Emotion Regulation
- Marsha Linehan (2015): Emotion Regulation Handouts 14 and 20 - Vulnerability and Body Care
- Marsha Linehan (2015): Interpersonal Effectiveness Handouts 6 and 7 - GIVE and FAST
Keep learning with care
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