DBT Therapeutic Activity Ideas for Kids and Caregivers

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is for children who have difficulty managing their emotions and behavior.

Dysregulated children may display behaviors such as physical aggression, yelling, demanding, refusing to comply with requests, shutting down, and irritability. DBT Therapeutic Activity Ideas for Kids and Caregivers gives caregivers and therapists activities to help children learn effective strategies to cope and manage emotions, behaviors, relationships and cognitions.

The book has approximately 70 reproducible handouts and worksheets to use in individual or group settings to teach and practice each skill. The handouts and worksheets are an effective tool for in person or online teletherapy with children and caregivers. Each skill is clearly described for therapists who are new or for those who are experienced in DBT. In DBT, the handouts explain the skill; each handout includes directions for use along with discussion questions to pose in the session. The worksheets also include directions, as well as suggestions or tips for the therapist to use the worksheet in session. The book covers all four modules of DBT including: mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. 

The last section of the book is specifically for caregivers (parents, foster parents, school counselor, residential direct care staff). This section teaches caregivers acceptance and change strategies including validation and behavior modification techniques.