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DBT Made Simple: A Step-by-Step Guide to Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Originally developed for the treatment of borderline personality disorder, dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, has rapidly become one of the most popular and most effective treatments for all mental health conditions rooted in out-of-control emotions. However, there are limited resources for psychologists seeking to use DBT skills with individual clients. In the tradition of ACT Made Simple , DBT Made Simple provides clinicians with everything they need to know to start using DBT in the therapy room.
The first part of this book briefly covers the theory and research behind DBT and explains how DBT differs from traditional cognitive behavioral therapy approaches. The second part focuses on strategies professionals can use in individual client sessions, while the third section teaches the four skills modules that form the backbone of core mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. The book includes handouts, case examples, and example therapist-client dialogue—everything clinicians need to equip their clients with these effective and life-changing skills.
The first part of this book briefly covers the theory and research behind DBT and explains how DBT differs from traditional cognitive behavioral therapy approaches. The second part focuses on strategies professionals can use in individual client sessions, while the third section teaches the four skills modules that form the backbone of core mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. The book includes handouts, case examples, and example therapist-client dialogue—everything clinicians need to equip their clients with these effective and life-changing skills.
197 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Sheri Van Dijk
20 books47 followersI am a psychotherapist working at Southlake Regional Health Centre and in private practice. I have a Master's degree in social work, and specialize in treating psychiatric disorders using dialectical behavior therapy and mindfulness practice.
I have written several books that help readers use DBT skills to treat emotional problems, including The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bipolar Disorder, The Bipolar Workbook for Teens (co-author), Don’t Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Teens, and Calming the Emotional Storm; and am the author of DBT Made Simple, a book that aims to teach clinicians how to use DBT with their clients diagnosed with a variety of emotional problems.
I'm just putting the finishing touches on my sixth book, which teaches teens DBT skills to help them be more effective in their relationships; look for this book to be published early in 2015.
In 2010 I won the R.O. Jones Award at the Canadian Psychiatric Association Annual Conference for my research on using DBT skills in a bipolar disorder group, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders in March, 2013.
Visit me at www.sherivandijk.com.
I have written several books that help readers use DBT skills to treat emotional problems, including The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bipolar Disorder, The Bipolar Workbook for Teens (co-author), Don’t Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Teens, and Calming the Emotional Storm; and am the author of DBT Made Simple, a book that aims to teach clinicians how to use DBT with their clients diagnosed with a variety of emotional problems.
I'm just putting the finishing touches on my sixth book, which teaches teens DBT skills to help them be more effective in their relationships; look for this book to be published early in 2015.
In 2010 I won the R.O. Jones Award at the Canadian Psychiatric Association Annual Conference for my research on using DBT skills in a bipolar disorder group, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders in March, 2013.
Visit me at www.sherivandijk.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 11, 2019
i wasnt originally planning on writing a review for this but fuck it. im already on here, and ive just finished complaining about another book i fucking loathed, so let me be positive for once.
this book is NOT for patients. i thought it was, which is why i picked it up in the first place. however, i think the fact that this is directed at therapists and not patients is why its such a good resource for those in recovery. i think its worth examining how therapists think about us, and how hard they work to treat us. its weird. i think a decade ago i would have been insulted knowing how DBT works and brushed it off as manipulation. but these days i think im much more receptive to it because of books like this demonstrating how helpful it can be even in very, very early steps.
despite being aimed towards therapists, van dijk writes in the clearest, simplest terms possible. i think anyone can become well versed in how DBT works. it is altogether different to conduct a therapy session, sure, but knowing how it works and becoming an active participant in my recovery process is important to me these days. and with BPD, thats unavoidable. you HAVE to be active, but in the most effective and efficient ways.
going into this book, i expected to get nothing out of it. im not exactly well versed in DBT but i know the basics. i just needed some motivation to jump start my recovery. i ended up learning when to use certain coping skills and more importantly, i knew why i was doing it. i mean, thats sort of the entire point of DBT; you have to exist in the moment and accept that fact too. and borderlines famously cannot do that. which like, no judgment, i cant either, but its cool to read a book that focuses nearly entirely on recovery and practical solutions rather than ruminating on past abuse.
dont get me wrong, i love ruminating. its safe. but im ready for recovery. and despite not having a therapist equipped with DBT skills, ive discovered that i can actually practice a lot of the mindfulness techniques on my own. i have to rely a lot more on self validation and the like because of that, but if there is absolutely anything i can do to lessen the extreme pain of living with BPD, then ill do it. i dont care anymore, im tired of being this volatile.
so....im sorry for rambling on but i need to say that i really do think this book has set me in the right direction and i will most definitely be returning to it, especially for those print outs. DBT made simple is an incredibly valuable resource for dealing with all forms of emotional dysregulation.
this book is NOT for patients. i thought it was, which is why i picked it up in the first place. however, i think the fact that this is directed at therapists and not patients is why its such a good resource for those in recovery. i think its worth examining how therapists think about us, and how hard they work to treat us. its weird. i think a decade ago i would have been insulted knowing how DBT works and brushed it off as manipulation. but these days i think im much more receptive to it because of books like this demonstrating how helpful it can be even in very, very early steps.
despite being aimed towards therapists, van dijk writes in the clearest, simplest terms possible. i think anyone can become well versed in how DBT works. it is altogether different to conduct a therapy session, sure, but knowing how it works and becoming an active participant in my recovery process is important to me these days. and with BPD, thats unavoidable. you HAVE to be active, but in the most effective and efficient ways.
going into this book, i expected to get nothing out of it. im not exactly well versed in DBT but i know the basics. i just needed some motivation to jump start my recovery. i ended up learning when to use certain coping skills and more importantly, i knew why i was doing it. i mean, thats sort of the entire point of DBT; you have to exist in the moment and accept that fact too. and borderlines famously cannot do that. which like, no judgment, i cant either, but its cool to read a book that focuses nearly entirely on recovery and practical solutions rather than ruminating on past abuse.
dont get me wrong, i love ruminating. its safe. but im ready for recovery. and despite not having a therapist equipped with DBT skills, ive discovered that i can actually practice a lot of the mindfulness techniques on my own. i have to rely a lot more on self validation and the like because of that, but if there is absolutely anything i can do to lessen the extreme pain of living with BPD, then ill do it. i dont care anymore, im tired of being this volatile.
so....im sorry for rambling on but i need to say that i really do think this book has set me in the right direction and i will most definitely be returning to it, especially for those print outs. DBT made simple is an incredibly valuable resource for dealing with all forms of emotional dysregulation.
September 17, 2026
This is probably the most practical, helpful counseling book that I’ve read so far in my program. Not only does Van Djik clearly explain what DBT is, she provides step-by-step instruction in a way that made me feel like I had been through an extensive training rather than simply reading a book.
August 18, 2014
I love complexity. But lately (particularly since I turned 40) I love simplicity more. There is something magical about making a complex idea simple provided that it retains it's essential power and efficacy. There is something really magical about making a complex idea more powerful and effective via simplification. At its best, this book accomplishes the latter.
This is a distilled (but not denatured) overview of DBT. If you're familiar with DBT you know it's not necessarily difficult conceptually. But it's a pretty large model with a lot of moving parts, and that can make it sort of overwhelming. This book boils the often antiseptic, clinical language of DBT manuals down to a more potable, potent and palatable tincture.
If you're familiar with ACT made simple, and if you're a fan, than you'll like this book too. I'm so glad DBT is becoming a little more user friendly. I think that is a result of the model finding more mainstream acceptance.
Perhaps, now that there is less to prove we (in the mindfulness based Psychotherapy world) can let our guard down a bit and open these models up to a broader audience of clinicians and consumers.
That is a good thing and this is a good book :)
This is a distilled (but not denatured) overview of DBT. If you're familiar with DBT you know it's not necessarily difficult conceptually. But it's a pretty large model with a lot of moving parts, and that can make it sort of overwhelming. This book boils the often antiseptic, clinical language of DBT manuals down to a more potable, potent and palatable tincture.
If you're familiar with ACT made simple, and if you're a fan, than you'll like this book too. I'm so glad DBT is becoming a little more user friendly. I think that is a result of the model finding more mainstream acceptance.
Perhaps, now that there is less to prove we (in the mindfulness based Psychotherapy world) can let our guard down a bit and open these models up to a broader audience of clinicians and consumers.
That is a good thing and this is a good book :)
March 2, 2021
Simplified look into DBT. I liked how the skills have been explained very clearly. It was useful to dive into therapist-client consultation parts.
More useful strategies how to sell skills for patients when they are not willing to practice skills they are actually lacking of.
Reminder for myself about dialectics: don't skip validation and use it in almost every possible situation AND push for change at the same time!
More useful strategies how to sell skills for patients when they are not willing to practice skills they are actually lacking of.
Reminder for myself about dialectics: don't skip validation and use it in almost every possible situation AND push for change at the same time!
February 17, 2026
As a school counselor looking for more strategies to support my students who struggle with emotion dysregulation, I found this book to be both accessible and challenging. The opening sections helped me understand the foundations of DBT in a way I had never been able to in the past and I appreciated the inclusion of sample client-therapist conversations and step-by-step guidance on how to introduce concepts and skills to clients.
That being said, I struggled with some of the author’s descriptions, particularly as we got further in the book and I had to retain more information. There were several concepts that she didn’t explain thoroughly enough for me to gain even a surface level understanding and it was hard to discern why she didn’t always use sample conversations or concrete examples in places where they would have been helpful.
I also struggled with the lack of even brief consideration of how DBT might be tailored for specific populations, such as adolescents and/or those from marginalized communities, who may have a more nuanced positionality compared to clinicians and the world at large. While Van Dijk does recommend rereading the book multiple times to truly grasp the concepts and also offers some continued learning resources near the end of the book, I believe some of the tips and approaches I’ve discovered through articles and books that more specifically address these populations would have made this book stronger if they had been included (see: "Considerations for the Use of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Individuals Experiencing Oppression" and DBT Skills for Teens with Anxiety: Practical Strategies to Manage Stress and Strengthen Emotional Resilience ).
All in all, I’m really glad I decided to buy this book as part of my professional development plan this year. When I finished it last week, I felt like it would take me months to be able to synthesize it and implement some of the skills I learned with my students, but I’m finding even as I’m still processing the book, I have been able to speak to some DBT principles and skills already in sessions with my students, which is a testament to how effective this book is despite its limitations.
That being said, I struggled with some of the author’s descriptions, particularly as we got further in the book and I had to retain more information. There were several concepts that she didn’t explain thoroughly enough for me to gain even a surface level understanding and it was hard to discern why she didn’t always use sample conversations or concrete examples in places where they would have been helpful.
I also struggled with the lack of even brief consideration of how DBT might be tailored for specific populations, such as adolescents and/or those from marginalized communities, who may have a more nuanced positionality compared to clinicians and the world at large. While Van Dijk does recommend rereading the book multiple times to truly grasp the concepts and also offers some continued learning resources near the end of the book, I believe some of the tips and approaches I’ve discovered through articles and books that more specifically address these populations would have made this book stronger if they had been included (see: "Considerations for the Use of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Individuals Experiencing Oppression" and DBT Skills for Teens with Anxiety: Practical Strategies to Manage Stress and Strengthen Emotional Resilience ).
All in all, I’m really glad I decided to buy this book as part of my professional development plan this year. When I finished it last week, I felt like it would take me months to be able to synthesize it and implement some of the skills I learned with my students, but I’m finding even as I’m still processing the book, I have been able to speak to some DBT principles and skills already in sessions with my students, which is a testament to how effective this book is despite its limitations.
December 8, 2022
A good primer on DBT. It had plenty of exercises and worksheets, and had lots of useful information for beginner psychotherapists and mental health professionals. I feel like DBT is a complex model, and the best way to use it is not in the form of the standardised "program" which is a bit too clinical for my liking, but to borrow elements of it to add to your practice. I liked how this book explored and explained these elements.
September 11, 2025
Класна книга в сукупності до курсу. Самостійно важко буде по ній зрозуміти як працювати в дбт. Є класні таблиці для д/з клієнтам
June 13, 2020
I really like how the book reads however the organization of the books seems to be a mess. The author does identify the DBT skills and modules but they are scattered throughout. I also noticed that the author did not teach many of the acronyms that DBT is comprised of. I understood and gained information from the book because I am extremely familiar with DBT but if I was an amateur, I would not be able to translate this book into other DBT books
October 15, 2018
I believe this book is a great start if you want to learn about DBT or practise and improve your DBT skills. It is written for psychotherapists but the style is easy and the content is simplified, as each chapter is summarised with a _wrapping up_ section. The author offers many worksheets on the main topics and tracking sheets for clients and super final useful tables with all the skills and DBT sections very briefly explained.
I, personally, took a lot out of this book, although I have to say, I didn't like how the writer at times refers to psychotherapists as superior to clients, with expressions like "Even we, let's admit it, would find this or that difficult"... Also, the writer identifies the client as "she" most of the time, which in some way makes sense, considering that the majority of people diagnosed with BDP are women but still, I found this pretty sexist. Plus, DBT can be a useful tool also for people diagnosed with other conditions.
I do definitely recommend this book to professionals and lay people and I am grateful for the skills I learned.
I, personally, took a lot out of this book, although I have to say, I didn't like how the writer at times refers to psychotherapists as superior to clients, with expressions like "Even we, let's admit it, would find this or that difficult"... Also, the writer identifies the client as "she" most of the time, which in some way makes sense, considering that the majority of people diagnosed with BDP are women but still, I found this pretty sexist. Plus, DBT can be a useful tool also for people diagnosed with other conditions.
I do definitely recommend this book to professionals and lay people and I am grateful for the skills I learned.
September 6, 2017
***This book is written for mental health professionals/therapists, not students of DBT.***
I misinterpreted the target audience of this book; I thought it was a book about DBT skills for students of DBT, which is what I am. However, it is actually written to help therapists implement DBT skills training for their patients. If you're not a mental health professional, you'd probably do better with a different book where you are the intended target audience.
I misinterpreted the target audience of this book; I thought it was a book about DBT skills for students of DBT, which is what I am. However, it is actually written to help therapists implement DBT skills training for their patients. If you're not a mental health professional, you'd probably do better with a different book where you are the intended target audience.
September 1, 2020
Definitely looking forward to reading this text again to get a firmer grasp on all the good skills and explanations that are provided. I've read a few "guides" on how to conduct treatment sessions with this approach but Van Dijk made her work much easier to understand and the provided dialogues and worksheets are incredibly helpful for new clinicians and I'm sure there are some helpful perspectives for more seasoned clinicians as well.
March 18, 2021
Books in mental health and simplicity do not hand in hand. This book has at least achieved the simplicity with which it has presented the points.
The narrative was cool and I got hooked to it right from the word go. The techniques used in this book are practical.
Five stars of course for the way it has been written.
Sheri Ven Dijk did a commendable job in writing this
The narrative was cool and I got hooked to it right from the word go. The techniques used in this book are practical.
Five stars of course for the way it has been written.
Sheri Ven Dijk did a commendable job in writing this
November 16, 2024
Excellent Book for Beginners
If you are new to DBT you will love this book. Very well organized and written without being repetitive or too technical. Great chart to use with clients. I am an addiction counselor and this book gave me valuable tools to work with my patients. Highly recommended!
If you are new to DBT you will love this book. Very well organized and written without being repetitive or too technical. Great chart to use with clients. I am an addiction counselor and this book gave me valuable tools to work with my patients. Highly recommended!
May 25, 2025
Гарно структурована книга, яка є хорошим фундаментом для початку використання діалектичної поведінкової терапії у психологічній практиці. Але як то кажуть "Easy to learn - hard to master" - для того, щоб зрозуміти нюанси ДПТ все ж варто ознайомитися з працею Марші Лінеган. Сподіваюся, що і її роботу скоро перекладуть.
November 4, 2019
This is an excellent introduction to DBT - very clear, simple, and straightforward. She also provides lots of worksheets to use with clients and tons of metaphors to help make DBT concepts more clear.
February 25, 2026
highly HIGHLY recommend this for any trainees who are looking for the foundations of DBT! a perfect starting place with several examples and worksheets to provide patients. i feel more confident approaching the topic and structure of DBT now
July 6, 2017
Great book if you are looking for an intro to DBT.
December 28, 2018
Great book, easy to read and understand. Lots of strategies to use on your own!
February 18, 2019
Very approachable and useful.
March 20, 2021
Great refresher!
November 14, 2022
It wasnt my favorite of the dbt books I have read.
March 3, 2023
A good into. Definitely more for therapists but it gives a good overview of the technique for anyone who is about to learn how to use it.
September 11, 2023
Good into to DBT 👍🏻👍🏻
February 29, 2024
I think they do a good job of teaching DBT skills. As someone that wants to teach others, I think it provides a lot of good ideas.
March 4, 2024
Nice refresher. Paper copy would be more useful than audio book to use worksheets and for references.
August 8, 2024
good introduction
August 16, 2025
I haven't fully understood DBT until I read this book. Clarifying!
September 17, 2025
Helpful in some ways, but not the best read.
January 28, 2026
great!
easy to read and understand
easy to read and understand
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews