Implementation of the DBT STEPS-A Social Emotional Learning Curriculum

Who Should Attend

• School Counselors
• School Social Workers
• School Mental Health Staff
• Prevention Specialists
• Behavioral Interventionists
• High School & Middle School Teachers
• School Administrators

Course 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 have shown to be 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 DBT STEPS-A curriculum 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

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

***The teaching maual: The DBT Skills in Schools: Skills Training for Emotional Problem Solving for Adolescents (DBT STEPS-A; Mazza et al., 2016) is required for the training.

The manual can be ordered directly through Guilford Press or Amazon.***

If ordering through Guilford Press, please use the coupon code AU2E for 15% off. Guilford Press does not send books as quickly as Amazon, so be sure to give yourself a couple of weeks for delivery.

Please familiarize yourself with the curriculum and read Part 1, Section 1 prior to the training. A significant portion of the training will work directly from the manual.

DBT in Schools, LLC will provide registered participants with additional training materials in the days prior to training.

Trainee Reviews

“We cannot stop life from happening. DBT STEPS-A training can provide kids the skills they need to survive and thrive into adulthood - no matter what life throws at them.”

“Excellent curriculum and training!”

“I have an entire program that comes with a full tool box that, as a team, we can implement. The “plug and play” curriculum with 30 lessons already scripted will help make it easy to incorporate into the pre-existing programs.”

Continuning Education

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. 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.

If you would like to register using a purchase order, please go to the DBT in Schools website, navigate to the training which you would like to attend and see the REGISTER WITH A PO section. Then select the button for new or returning customers.

This will allow you to start the invoicing process by entering your invoicing details and recieving our W9. Please email us with questions at info@dbtinschools.com. Thanks!