The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Depression: Essential DBT Practices to Manage Intense Emotions, Cultivate Self-Compassion, and Find Hope

by Shirley Porter

Powerful and proven-effective skills to help you manage emotions, move beyond feelings of hopelessness, feel more connected, and thrive. If you have depression, you may struggle with intense and painful emotions. You might lack motivation or feel disconnected from the world around you. And you may give up hope that you’ll ever feel better. It’s important to know that you aren’t alone, and there are skills you can use to find your way out of the darkness and into the light. Grounded in evidence-based dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)—the gold standard for treating emotion dysregulation—this workbook can help you take that important first step. The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Depression offers proven-effective skills to balance your emotions, deal with distressing situations, improve your relationships, increase feelings of hope, and be more mindful and grounded. You’ll find breathing and body scanning exercises to help you anchor yourself in the moment, journaling prompts to help you explore your thoughts and feelings, and values-based activities to help you identify what truly matters to you. Depression isn’t your fault, and it doesn’t have to define you or your future. Drawing on the core skills of DBT—including mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance—this vital workbook will help you find hope, rediscover your purpose, and improve your overall well-being, one step at a time.

Genres: Self Help, Mental Health

184 pages, Paperback

Published January 2, 2026

About the author

Shirley Porter, MEd, is a Registered Psychotherapist and founder and Clinical Director of Shirley Porter and Associates Psychotherapy Clinic. Her experience includes more than thirty years as a psychotherapist working with adults suffering from depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, grief, relationship issues, and suicidality. Shirley is a former Adjunct Clinical Professor in the graduate Counselling Psychology program at Western University in London, Canada. She is author of two published books on trauma, as well as several research articles. She is also a contributing writer of mental health articles for Choosingtherapy.com,and has more than twenty years' experience as a clinical supervisor/consultant to other therapists.

Reviews

[Brijeet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This workbook provides an overview of some DBT skills (e.g. mindfulness) along with exercises and examples to use them to manage depression, including addressing self-criticism/judgment for being depressed, breathing exercises, identifying things that help with coping, and in general approaching depression with more self-compassion.

Overall this doesn't feel particularly different from cognitive therapy books that exist for depression. The written exercises could also feel daunting for folks who are feeling depressed, so they may work better for those with recurrent bouts of depression, to complete when they are feeling more clearheaded and then refer back to when they are struggling.

Not a bad workbook, but if you already have similar workbooks this doesn't have much new to offer.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc.

[Jenifer Freedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent! As a therapist offered an advanced copy/pre-read of this book by the publisher ... this book is a must-read! It is very user-friendly and blends evidence-based DBT tools with deep empathy, helping readers manage depression while reconnecting with their most authentic selves. Shirley Porter offers clear, practical strategies for emotional regulation, mindfulness, and distress tolerance - while gently guiding readers to reclaim the parts of themselves that have been lost to depression. A powerful, validating resource for anyone seeking not just symptom relief, but deep, sustainable healing and a renewed sense of self. This is an excellent resource for those working through depression, and the therapists helping them.

(NOTE: please be aware of false reviews offered by general public prior to the release date of this book - January, 2026.

[Brian L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a former first responder who has experienced the emotional toll of traumatic events, this book is a compassionate, practical guide for anyone navigating depression. The author explains symptoms, treatment options, and concepts like the Window of Tolerance in clear, simple language. Each chapter offers realistic, research based strategies—from mindfulness and emotional regulation to building healthier relationships and creating safety plans.
What stands out most is the supportive tone. The author helps readers understand their experiences without judgment and provides accessible tools they can tailor to their own needs. It’s an encouraging, easy to follow resource for anyone seeking a path toward healing and stability.
Highly recommend this book. Wonderful job by the author. A much-needed resource.

[Sharon Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Shirley Porter’s compassion for the reader is evident through the words of The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Depression! It feels like she is ‘rooting’ for the person and that she believes in them. The definitions for depression and many other terms (e.g., mindfulness, thought distortion, emotional reasoning) are clear and easy to understand. Furthermore, the exercises in the workbook helped me reflect on how my thoughts, emotions, and body react to different situations and how I can positively shift these things by using the suggestions in the various chapters. I was able to do this immediately, which provided me with renewed hope and the knowledge that things will get better! I highly recommend this workbook to anyone who is suffering from depression!

[Carol Saxby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this workbook as it thoroughly explains what depression is and begins by introducing symptoms to the user. By following the exercises and continuing on through the book I soon gained a better explanation of how depression relates to me. Each exercise leads into the next and I took my time completing these exercises. I felt deeply connected to the author as she patiently guided me along the way.

[Kelsey Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This would be a great workbook to use with clients. I would envision working on together in session primarily rather than as homework, at least at first. I like the SPEAK UP acronym rather than the DEAR MAN.