Mindfulness is the foundation of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and a vital first step in helping clients gain greater emotional control and psychological flexibility. This course explores the practical application of DBT Mindfulness Skills—specifically the “What” and “How” skills—as developed by Marsha Linehan, offering clinicians tangible tools to help clients manage distress, increase self-awareness, and foster greater connection with themselves and others.
Rather than teaching mindfulness as a meditative or passive practice, this skills-based approach frames mindfulness as an active and trainable capacity to attend, observe, and respond with awareness. These tools are especially helpful for clients who are emotionally dysregulated, trauma-exposed, or disconnected from their emotional experience
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:
Understand the rationale behind DBT’s mindfulness-first approach.
Teach clients the “What Skills” (Observe, Describe, Participate) to engage with their present-moment experience.
Apply the “How Skills” (Non-judgmentally, One-mindfully, Effectively) to improve emotional regulation.
Integrate mindfulness into therapeutic work with clients who are emotionally avoidant or over-controlled.
Identify the role of mindfulness in bridging Emotion Mind, Rational Mind, and accessing Wise Mind.
Personality Disorders: Theoretical framework and formulation