“What I like about this book from a teacher’s perspective is if you want to be able to open a book and find a lesson for the day, it has that,” she explains.įollowing are helpful tips and examples of DBT activities Dunham encourages teachers to use in the classroom. And, when looking for new techniques to use with her clients, she finds the DBT® Skills in Schools manual particularly useful. In her work with children and families, Lisa Dunham, a licensed clinical social worker and mental health professional, uses DBT activities on a daily basis. As an educator, you know kids can be especially hard on themselves when frustrated, so redirecting their attention with DBT activities, even for just a few minutes, can help them destress and learn how to manage challenging situations. Non-clinical DBT combines concepts like mindfulness and acceptance with specific strategies and exercises to help individuals cope in stressful situations. That’s why implementing social-emotional learning and stress-management activities in the classroom are good ways to help them stay centered - and the best part is, these activities don’t have to be complicated.īy using simple, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) activities, you can help students build important stress-management skills. Stress and anxiety can have debilitating effects on a student’s ability to focus.
