DBT in Schools

Open Enrollment Training Opportunities

DBT STEPS-A Implementation

Implementation of the DBT STEPS-E (Elementary) SEL Curriculum

DBT STEPS-A Informed Counseling Strategies

DBT STEPS-E Booster Training

Implementation of the DBT STEPS-E (Elementary) SEL Curriculum & Booster Training

DBT STEPS-E empowers elementary students with essential skills in emotion regulation, coping, interpersonal effectiveness, and decision-making. Designed to integrate seamlessly into general education classrooms, the program also supports special education and multi-tiered instruction.

The manual includes two developmentally tailored curricula—K–2 (12 lessons) and Grades 3–5 (16 lessons)—featuring teaching scripts, student examples, handouts, and engaging worksheets. Aligned with the CASEL framework, STEPS-E strengthens both social-emotional and academic learning.

✨ The STEPS-E Booster Training is a one-day option exclusively for past STEPS-A trainees. This training bridges prior STEPS-A experience with strategies for adapting skills to meet the developmental needs of K–5 learners.

Upcoming DBT STEPS-E Training Opportunities

DBT STEPS-E Booster Training

March 16-17, 2026
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM PDT
$745 Per person
$695 Early bird per person (Ending January 17, 2026)
$695 Per person for groups of 5 or more
$645 Early bird per person for groups of 5 or more (Ending January 17, 2026)

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Implementation of the DBT STEPS-E (Elementary) SEL Curriculum
March 23-25, 2026
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM PDT
$995 Per person
$945 Early bird per person (Ending January 23, 2026)
$945 Per person for groups of 5 or more
$895 Early bird per person for groups of 5 or more (Ending January 23, 2026)

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DBT STEPS-A: Implementation and Training

DBT STEPS-A (Skills Training for Emotional Problem Solving for Adolescents) equips middle and high school students with critical skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Adapted from Dialectical Behavior Therapy and designed for universal (Tier I) SEL instruction, it also supports students across multiple tiers.

The STEPS-A Implementation Training prepares instructors, teachers, and school staff to deliver the curriculum effectively. Participants gain familiarity with the structure, lessons, and teaching strategies, while also learning how to address implementation challenges in diverse school settings.

Training includes:

Background and development of DBT STEPS-A
Structure and implementation considerations
Overview and demonstration of lessons
Preparation and participant practice teaching lessons

This training ensures educators leave ready to confidently integrate DBT STEPS-A into their classrooms and schoolwide SEL programming.

Upcoming Implementation Training Opportunities

March 4-6, 2026
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM PDT

$895 Early Bird Through 02/03/25
$945 Standard Pricing

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DBT Informed School Counseling Strategies

School mental health staff are provided tools to identify student goals and behavioral targets for counseling sessions as well as the rationale of using a chain analysis as a method of assessment and guide to determining effective solutions. Additionally, participants are provided step-by-step processes for providing skills coaching (based on DBT STEPS-A skills) to students “on the fly” when needed during the school day in order to increase the amount of time students spend in the classroom. The training offers an understanding of the impact of the invalidating environment on emotion dysregulation, and teaches validation skills and how they can best be used to impact school culture. Time is spent on demonstration and participant practice of “Coaching On The Fly” when needed during the school day in order to increase the amount of time students spend in the classroom. Participants will learn how the invalidating environment can impact emotion dysregulation, and will be taught validation skills and how they can be used to impact school culture.

Upcoming Counseling Strategies Training Opportunities

January 27-28, 2026
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM PDT
$645 Early Bird Through 12/26/25
$695 Standard Pricing

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Our Training Team

Married for 20 years with 3 biological children, Lizz and Jim often refer to DBT Steps-A as their fourth child. This is not just a business; it’s personal for both Lizz and Jim.

Jim started his journey as a school psychologist and Lizz as a clinical psychologist. Together they witnessed the shortcomings of how we as a society approach and treat young people encountering emotion dysregulation. Jim found difficulty addressing the needs of the many students in crisis and grew frustrated with his inability to impact the growing number of students requiring support. Lizz, both then and now, receives more inquiries for therapy than she or her local colleagues can handle. Together, they realized that something needed to be done to reach more kids before they were in crisis. From that mindset grew the idea for the proactive curriculum that is now DBT STEPS-A – a prevention-oriented approach to supporting and enhancing every student’s mental well-being.