March 4-6, 2026

Time: 7am -2pm Pacific Time

Via Zoom

Format: Live Virtual
Pricing:

• General Admission: $995.00 per person

• Early Bird Pricing: $945 per person until February 4, 2026

• General Admission Group of 5+: $945 per person

• Early Bird Group of 5+: $895 per person until February 4, 2026

Intended Audience: Mental Health Staff (Social Workers, Counselors, School Psychologists), Middle School and High School Teachers (Health, Gen Ed, SpEd), Tier 3 Teachers, Administrators

Overview: DBT Skills in Schools: Skills Training for Emotional Problem Solving for Adolescents (DBT STEPS-A) is a universal social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum designed for middle/high school students in educational settings. The DBT STEPS-A curriculum is designed to help adolescents develop coping strategies and decision-making abilities to use in school and into the future. The DBT STEPS-A curriculum is based on the skills of comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) that are effective with both adults and adolescents experiencing mild to severe levels of emotional and behavioral difficulties. The skills have been adapted for a universal, nonclinical student population. The curriculum is designed to be taught at Tier I of a multi-tier or RTI system; however, it has been effective at all levels of MTSS implementation.

The training design of the Implementation of the DBT STEPS-A Curriculum: 3 Day Training is to establish four basic elements necessary in implementing the curriculum effectively:

A. Background and Development of the DBT STEPS-A curriculum

B. Structure and Implementation Considerations

C. Overview and demonstration of DBT STEPS-A lessons

D. Preparation and participant practice of teaching DBT STEPS-A lessons

• REQUIRED: The DBT Skills in Schools: Skills Training for Emotional Problem Solving for Adolescents (DBT STEPS-A; Mazza et al., 2016) curriculum is required for this training. The manual can be ordered directly through Guilford Press (for large orders) or Amazon (for smaller orders).

• Please read the overview section of the curriculum before class.

• DBT in Schools, LLC will provide registered participants with additional training materials before the start date.

Learning Objectives 

Participants will be able to…

1.      Explain the rationale for the DBT STEPS-A curriculum in middle and high schools.

2.      Describe the continuum of the different applications of DBT that may be provided in the school context.

3.      Explain how the DBT STEPS-A curriculum in a school differs from comprehensive DBT clinical treatment. 

4.      Utilize the DBT STEPS-A manual to prepare and deliver SEL lessons to the classroom and/or small groups.

5.      Describe the three states of mind. 

6.      Apply and teach the concept of dialectics and dialectical thinking.

7.      Lead students through a mindfulness exercise and process the relevance of the exercise with students.

8.      Explain mindfulness “what” and “how” skills.

9.      Explain the Opposite Action skill to change emotions.

10.   Explain the Check the Facts skill to regulate emotions.

11.   Explain the WAVE skill for experiencing emotions. 

12.    Explain the difference between crisis survival and accepting reality skills.

13.   Explain and teach the Distract with the ACCEPTS crisis survival skill.

14.   Teach students how to understand the parts of an emotion using the Model of Emotions.

15.    Utilize a DBT STEPS-A diary card as a progress monitoring tool with students. 

16.   Demonstrate teaching one skill from the interpersonal effectiveness module.

Daily Schedule

7:00am-2:00pm Pacific Time

*****Note: Detailed Training schedules by US Time Zone are available on the Event page after registration*****

• 7:00 – 8:15 Morning Session 1

• 8:15 – 8:30 Break

• 8:30 – 9:30 Morning Session 2

• 9:30 – 9:35 Mini break

• 9:35 – 10:30 Morning Session 3

• 10:30 – 11:15 Lunch

• 11:15 – 12:30 Afternoon Session 1

• 12:30 – 12:40 Mini break

• 12:40 – 1:30 Afternoon Session 2

• 1:30 – 1:35 Break

• 1:35 - 2:00 Afternoon Session 3 and Evaluations

Instructors: Dr. Jaclyn Lally, PhD and Mariah Covington, MA

Jaclyn Lally, PhD, NCSP

Dr. Jaclyn Lally is a co-creator and instructor of the DBT-based course series "Wellness and Resilience in College and Beyond" and "Thriving on the Path to Happiness" at the University of Washington. These courses serve 1500 undergraduates annually. She also conducts research with graduate students to assess the effectiveness of the Wellness and Resilience course.

As a school psychologist, Jaclyn is passionate about adapting K-12 social-emotional learning practices for higher education. Her primary focus is on promoting resilience and mental wellness skills to prepare students for their future careers. Currently, Jaclyn is involved in launching two additional continuation courses, which will be part of a Wellness and Social Emotional Learning specialization within the Educational Studies major at the UW College of Education.

Mariah Covington, MA 

Mariah Covington earned her B.A. in Sociology from Howard University and her M.A. in Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Mariah implemented DBT STEPS-A (Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Skills for Training Emotional Problem Solving for Adolescents) as the school-wide social emotional learning program at a boarding school for at-risk youth in Washington, DC. Prior to that, Mariah worked at a residential treatment facility for adolescents, where she conducted and published peer reviewed journal articles on the effectiveness of DBT. In this role, she also co-facilitated DBT group skills training. Mariah has worked extensively with adolescents who have experienced trauma, cognitive difficulties, mood disorders, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. She also works with parents to provide continuity of care. Mariah is a member of the ISITDBT board. Currently, she works at Wake Kendall in Washington DC, providing DBT treatment and therapeutic services for adolescents. 

CE Hours

1. Participants attending the entire training may receive a certificate for 16.5 CE Hours.

2. DBT in Schools, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7064. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. DBT in Schools, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

3. DBT in Schools, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYSED SW)as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0838. Contact Hours: 16.5 Educational Methods: Lecture, Multimedia, Experiential Activities

4. DBT in Schools, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's Office of Teaching Initiatives (OTI:NYSED)as an approved sponsor of CTLE for Professional Classroom Teachers, School Leaders and Level III Teaching Assistants. I certify that the individual listed above completed the CTLE cited above pursuant to Subpart 80-6 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. NYSED Approved CTLE Sponsor ID #23849. Number of Hours Awarded: 16.5

5. This program is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886826240-1688) for 16.5 continuing education contact hours.

   Contact for Questions and Accommodations:

   Julie Giebel

   Training Coordinator

   DBT in Schools, LLC

   info@dbtinschools.com

   206-235-9784

   Accommodations: We are happy to support individuals with diverse needs. Please reach out, and we will make every effort to accommodate your requests.

   Refunds: Registration is fully refundable (less payment processing fees) for any reason up to one week before the start date. Please contact us if you would like to transfer your registration to a later date for no fee.

   Cancellations: Should the training event be cancelled for any reason, all registrants will be fully refunded or allowed to register for a later event.