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DBT Skills Training Class

Jadivan is a highly trained and experienced Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provider with a diverse skill set. Based on personal experience, I believe DBT skills training is essential for increasing self-awareness by shedding the light on the thought processes, beliefs, emotions, bodily sensations, reactions, urges, actions, and behaviors.

Through comprehensive DBT skills training, which includes four modules, (Introduction and Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, and Interpersonal effectiveness) individuals can identify and adopt desired behaviors. This process equips them with the tools needed to achieve their goals and create a fulfilling life.

What is DBT? Click here to read more: (resource https://dbt-lbc.org/index.php?page=101119)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive multi-diagnostic, modularized behavioral intervention designed to treat individuals with severe mental disorders and out-of-control cognitive, emotional and behavioral patterns. It has been commonly viewed as a treatment for individuals meeting criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) with chronic and high-risk suicidality, substance dependence or other disorders. However, over the years, data has emerged demonstrating that DBT is also effective for a wide range of other disorders and problems, most of which are associated with difficulties regulating emotions and associated cognitive and behavioral patterns.

As the name implies, dialectical philosophy is a critical underpinning of DBT. Dialectics is a method of logic that identifies the contradictions (antithesis) in a person's position (thesis) and overcomes them by finding the synthesis. Additionally, in DBT a client cannot be understood in isolation from his or her environment and the transactions that occur. Rather, the therapist emphasizes the transaction between the person and their environment both in the development and maintenance of any disorders. It is also assumed that there are multiple causes as opposed to a single factor affecting the client. And, DBT uses a framework that balances the treatment strategies of acceptance and change - the central dialectical tension in DBT. Therapists work to enhance the capability (skills) of their client as well as to develop the motivation to change. Maintaining that balance between acceptance and change with clients is crucial for both keeping a client in treatment and ensuring they are making progress towards their goals of creating a life worth living.

DBT clearly articulates the functions of treatment that it addresses. They are:

1. to enhance an individual's capability by increasing skillful behavior,

2. to improve and maintain a client's motivation to change and be engaged with treatment,

3. to ensure generalization of change occurring through treatment,

4. to enhance the motivation of therapists to deliver effective treatment, and

5. to assist the individual in restructuring or changing his or her environment such that it supports and maintains progress and advancement towards goals.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

The DBT training program is based on two foundational books by Marsha M. Linehan: DBT Skills Training Manual and DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets.

DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets. This book provides copies of essential handouts and worksheets for practicing skills. This book is highly recommended (purchasing is encouraged) to participate in the DBT skills training program.

The DBT Skills Training Manual is not required for participants, as it is primarily intended for use by the trainer.

Clarity with Jadivan offering DBT skills training class for ages 16 and above.
The full program is 22-weeks; 2-weeks Introduction to DBT, 2-weeks Mindfulness, 6-weeks Emotional Regulation, 6-weeks Distress Tolerance, and 6-weeks Interpersonal Effectiveness.

DBT skills training class course flow:

Every participant must first take the "Intro to DBT class" then the "Mindfulness" class, prior to continuing with any of the other three modules.

After completing the Intro to DBT and Mindfulness, the participant might take any of the other classes/modules at any order [Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness]. Please check below for the start dates of each class.

*Currently the class is offered on Saturdays, other days and times will be offered soon (feel free to contact me with preferred times and days).

I am currently offering the Intro to DBT free of charge- LIMITED TIME ONLY. This module involves a two-week commitment and provides an opportunity to continue with the full DBT skills training program.

While participation in the full 22-week DBT skills training program is optional, completing all four modules is strongly recommended. Each module builds a comprehensive set of skills that can be applied across various life situations to support personal growth, enhance well-being, and achieve meaningful life goals.

Please note that participation in the full DBT skills training program requires you to attend individual therapy sessions with a DBT provider, either with me or another qualified clinician of your choice, on a weekly or biweekly basis. Exceptions to this requirement may be discussed prior to registration.

This structure ensures that the DBT skills training class remains an educational setting rather than a therapy processing group. Since the material covered can be emotionally triggering, individual sessions provide a safe space to process these experiences, apply learned skills more effectively, and maintain a supportive and respectful class environment for all participants.

Enroll via private pay instructions:

To enroll via Private pay: Please complete the intake form, or contact Jadivan Jacobson

I am committed to making DBT skills training accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or financial situation. Affordable care and support should be a right, not a privilege. If financial concerns are a barrier, please contact me to discuss a sliding scale payment plan or scholarship opportunities. Let’s work together toward the change you seek.

Click here for rates of services, sliding scale is available

Enroll using health insurance (Washington state) instructions:

To enroll using insurance (in Washington state) and/or use HSA fund, please contact Jonathan Goodman to discuss the details and enrollment.

Jonathan Goodman generously offered to co-lead the DBT program, check Jonathan's psychology today profile for more details on what insurance is accepted, and feel free to contact him directly:
email: jgoodman@whisperingrockcounseling.net, with a subject "DBT class enrollment"

Phone: (253) 234-5464, leave a message on even if Jon's voicemail says he's not taking new clients, make sure to mention DBT class in your message.

Intro to DBT Class (2 weeks)

This module includes introduction to DBT skills training, to learn about:
the expectation of the DBT class - the foundations of DBT class - DBT goals- DBT assumptions - DBT bio-social theory - DBT diary card - and DBT Chain analysis.
To enroll in the full DBT skills training program, you must complete the Intro, and mindfulness modules. (For the DBT intro only, you are not required to have individual sessions with DBT provider, although it is encouraged)

Rates: Click here for rates of services

This module is offered every Saturday at 9:00am PT (Pacific Time) for 90 min with 5 min break. Starting Saturday January 25th 2025.
New enrollment every two weeks, minimum 4 participants is required.

*The full DBT skills training program starting on June 7th, 2025, please see below for details of each module.*

Intro to DBT class dates:

Week 1: February 8, 2025

Week 2: February 15, 2025

Week 1: February 22, 2025

Week 2: March 1, 2025

Week 1: March 8, 2025

Week 2: March 15, 2025

Week 1: March 22, 2025

Week 2: March 29, 2025

Week 1: April 5, 2025

Week 2: April 12, 2025

Week 1: April 19, 2025

Week 2: April 26, 2025

Week 1: May 3, 2025

Week 2: May 10, 2025

Week 1: May 17, 2025

Week 2: May 24, 2025

Week 1: May 31, 2025

Week 2: June 7, 2025

Week 1: June 14, 2025

Week 2: June 21, 2025

Week 1: June 28, 2025

Week 2: July 5, 2025

Mindfulness (2 weeks)

This module includes mindfulness, and walking the middle path: Learning mindfulness is essential, as it helps to increase being aware of the present moment without judgment, which then allows the person to identify what are they experiencing in that moment, to keep, reduce, or change the impact of it on the actions and behaviors.

Rates: Click here for rates of services

To enroll in this module, you must complete the Intro.

This module is offered in between every module, please note dates of the Next class offered: Saturdays at 11am PT (Pacific Time) for 90-120 minutes with 15 min break:

Week 1: June 7, 2025
Week 2: June 14, 2025

Then repeats on

Week 1: August 2, 2025
Week 2: August 9, 2025

Then repeats on

Week 1: September 27, 2025
Week 2: October 4, 2025

Distress Tolerance (6 weeks)

You will learn about what are situations impacting your stress levels, and getting through crisis situations without making things worse and accepting reality as it is. You will learn skills to use in immediate elevation of stress levels, to reduce its impact on your judgement, and be able to use your other skills to make situations better for you.

Rates: Click here for rates of services

To enroll in this module, you must complete the Intro, and mindfulness modules.

Dates of the Next class offered: Saturdays at 11am PT (Pacific Time) for 90-120 minutes with 15 min break:

Week 1: June 21, 2025

Week 2: June 28, 2025

Week 3: July 5, 2025

Week 4: July 12, 2025

Week 5: July 19, 2025

Week 6: July 26, 2025

Then repeats on (TBD)

Emotion Regulation (6 weeks)

In this modules you will learn about what are emotions, where they are coming from, what are the purpose of emotions, and how they impact the individual urges, actions, and behaviors. Therefore it helps in understanding and reducing vulnerability to emotions, and changing unwanted emotions and behaviors.

Rates: Click here for rates of services

To enroll in this module, you must complete the Intro, and mindfulness modules.

Dates of the Next class offered: Saturdays at 11am PT (Pacific Time) for 90-120 minutes with 15 min break:

Week 1: August 16, 2025

Week 2: August 23, 2025

Week 3: August 30, 2025

Week 4: September 6, 2025

Week 5: September 13, 2025

Week 6: September 20, 2025

Then repeats on (TBD)

Interpersonal Effectiveness (6 weeks)

You will learn about what are your interpersonal goals, and skills to get your interpersonal objectives met, creating and maintaining relationships, ending relationships and increasing self-respect in relationships.

Rates: Click here for rates of services

To enroll in this module, you must complete the Intro, and mindfulness modules.

Dates of the Next class offered: Saturdays at 11am PT (Pacific Time) for 90-120 minutes with 15 min break:

Week 1: October 11, 2025

Week 2: October 18, 2025

Week 3: October 25, 2025

Week 4: November 1, 2025

Week 5: November 8, 2025

Week 6: November 15, 2025

Then repeats on (TBD)