Utilizing Dialectical Behavioral Therapy in Schools: Staff Trainings to Help Students Manage Emotions and Build...

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• School Health

Background:

• Schools play a crucial role in addressing the youth mental health crisis by fostering social-emotional well-being.
• Teachers often lack adequate training to support student mental health in the classroom.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) offers skills for managing intense emotions, which can be integrated into school settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and accessibility of the "Utilizing DBT Skills in Schools" (UDSS) virtual training program.
• To assess the impact of UDSS training on school personnel's knowledge and application of DBT skills.
• To determine the perceived value and feasibility of integrating DBT skills into daily classroom activities.

Main Methods:

• A virtual training program (UDSS) was developed and delivered to school personnel.
• Surveys were administered to assess participants' knowledge, intention to use skills, and overall perception of the training.
• Open-ended responses were collected to gather qualitative feedback on the training's structure and focus.

Main Results:

• The UDSS curriculum was accessed by nearly 700 school personnel.
• Participants reported increased knowledge of DBT skills, including emotion regulation, stress management, and validation.
• High levels of intention to use the skills and favorable perceptions of the training were observed, with appreciation for the organized skill structure and collaborative approach.

Conclusions:

• The UDSS program offers a valuable, accessible, and time-efficient training for school professionals.
• The training equips teachers with practical DBT skills to identify and manage strong emotions in the classroom.
• UDSS provides flexible options for educators to enhance their capacity to support student mental health.