DBT Skills for Young Explorers

A comprehensive DBT skills training sequence for elementary schools, split into K-2 and 3-5 curricula. This program covers Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness using age-appropriate activities and narratives.

MBMegan Bjork

Orientation and Discovery

An introductory lesson for K-2 students to establish classroom rules and identify the four main areas of focus: emotions, attention, thoughtful decisions, and getting along with others.

The Power of AND

A lesson for grades 3-5 on dialectics, exploring the 'Field Guide' concept of 'Both Sides Thinking' to understand how two seemingly opposite ideas can both be true.

The Power of AND

A lesson for K-2 students on the concept of dialectics, called 'Both Sides Thinking,' focusing on the power of the word 'AND' and how two different perspectives can both be true.

The Wise Owl Mind

A lesson for K-2 students to introduce the concept of Mindfulness and the Three States of Mind: Emotion Mind (hot), Reasonable Mind (cool), and Wise Mind (the balanced owl).

The Skill Detective

A lesson for K-2 students to teach the Three Mindfulness 'What' Skills: Observe (noticing without words), Describe (using words for facts), and Participate (fully joining in).

The AND-Hero Toolbox

A follow-up lesson for K-2 students to practice 'Both Sides Thinking' by identifying one-sided words to avoid and learning to use 'I' statements and the 'YET' (Yeti) mindset.

The Cool Down CAP

A follow-up lesson for K-2 students to learn the 'CAP' skills (Cold Water, Active Exercise, Paced Breathing) to change their body's physiology and reduce intense 'RED zone' emotions quickly.

Wise Mind Goes to SEA

An introductory lesson to Distress Tolerance (renamed 'Don't Make It Worse' for K-2), focusing on recognizing the RED zone and using strategic distraction with the SEA skill (Sensations, Emotions, Activities).

The Emotion Chain

An optional but foundational lesson for K-2 students to understand that emotions are a full-body response made of several parts: something happens, we have a thought, we feel it inside, and we act outside.

The Great Feeling Flip

A lesson for K-2 students to teach the skill of Opposite Action. When our feelings don't match the facts, we can change how we feel by doing the opposite of what our body wants to do.

Relationship and Self-Respect Codes

The final Interpersonal Effectiveness lesson for grades 3-5, teaching the GIVE and FAST skills for maintaining relationships and self-respect.

The Big Eye Case

A lesson for K-2 students to introduce the first skill of Emotion Regulation: Check the Facts. Students learn to use their 'Big Eye' to see if their thoughts match what actually happened in a situation.

The Heart of Asking

A lesson for K-2 students to teach the skill of DEAR. This skill helps students learn how to effectively ask for what they want or need in a way that respects themselves and others.

Putting Your Best FACE Forward

The final lesson of the K-2 curriculum, teaching the skill of FACE. This skill focuses on building and maintaining self-respect in social interactions by being fair, avoiding over-apologizing, sticking to one's values, and being honest.

The Wise Mind Experiment

A lesson for grades 3-5 to introduce the concept of Mindfulness and the Three States of Mind: Emotion Mind, Reasonable Mind, and Wise Mind, using the metaphor of a 'Internal Balance Scale.'

The Skills Researcher

A lesson for grades 3-5 to teach the Three Mindfulness 'What' Skills: Observe (noticing without labels), Describe (using factual language), and Participate (fully engaging in an activity).

The Emergency Reset

A follow-up lesson for grades 3-5 students to learn the 'CAP' skills (Cold Water, Active Exercise, Paced Breathing) to change their body's physiology and reduce intense 'RED zone' emotions quickly.

The Focus Shift

A Distress Tolerance lesson for grades 3-5 focusing on using strategic distraction (SEA: Sensations, Emotions, Activities) to manage high emotional arousal without acting impulsively.

The Stress Shield Lab

A Distress Tolerance lesson for grades 3-5 focusing on strategic distraction using the IMPROVE and Distraction skills (renamed Stress Shield).

Acceptance Lab

A lesson for grades 3-5 focused on the concept of Radical Acceptance, called the 'Acceptance Lab,' where students learn to accept reality as it is to reduce suffering and move toward problem-solving.

Orientation and Discovery

An introductory lesson for 3-5 students to establish classroom rules and identify the four main areas of focus: emotions, attention, thoughtful decisions, and getting along with others.

The Emotion Lab

A sophisticated lesson for grades 3-5 students to break down the complex parts of an emotional response: the prompting event, thoughts/interpretations, body sensations, and action urges.

The AND-Hero Toolbox

A follow-up lesson for grades 3-5 students to practice 'Both Sides Thinking' by identifying one-sided words to avoid and learning to use 'I' statements and the 'YET' (Yeti) mindset.

Clear Requests

A lesson for grades 3-5 to teach the DEAR MAN skill for effective communication, called 'Clear Requests,' helping students learn how to ask for things or say no while maintaining relationships.

The Fact Finder

A lesson for grades 3-5 to teach the 'Check the Facts' skill. Students learn to use a 'Facts Filter' to determine if their emotional reaction matches the reality of a situation.

The Action Flip Experiment

A lesson for grades 3-5 students to teach the 'Opposite Action' skill. Students learn to identify action urges and perform behaviors that are opposite to an emotion that doesn't fit the facts.

Solution Lab

A lesson for grades 3-5 focused on Problem Solving, using the 'Solution Lab' metaphor to teach a step-by-step approach to resolving situations that can be changed.

Healthy Habits

A lesson for grades 3-5 on the 'ABC' and 'PLEASE' skills, called 'Healthy Habits,' focusing on building a life that reduces emotional vulnerability through accumulation of positive events and physical health.