DBT Skills in Elementary Schools

Packed with practical tools, this manual presents DBT STEPS-E, a comprehensive social–emotional learning (SEL) program grounded in the proven skills of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Two complete curricula are designed to integrate seamlessly into multi-tiered systems of support in grades K-2 and 3–5 classrooms. With a focus on prevention, DBT STEPS-E offers a nonclinical application for building emotion regulation, coping, interpersonal, and decision-making skills aligned with core SEL competencies. Detailed lesson plans are accompanied by teaching scripts, examples, and numerous “From the Field” vignettes. In a convenient large-size format, the volume includes a daily diary card to track skills use and 78 reproducible student handouts that also can be downloaded and printed.

See also the authors’ curriculum for grades 6–12: DBT Skills in Schools: Skills Training for Emotional Problem Solving for Adolescents (DBT STEPS-A)

This book is in The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series, edited by Sandra M. Chafouleas.