DBT Fundamentals (core concepts & tools)

Essential DBT concepts and tools.

Before diving into specific skills, DBT teaches several foundational tools and concepts that support the entire treatment. These are used across all four modules (Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness).

If you're new to DBT, start here. These fundamentals are the backbone that makes everything else work.

In this section

Biosocial Theory

The biosocial theory explains the 'why' behind DBT.

Diary Cards

Daily tracking tool for emotions, urges, and skill use.

SUDs (Subjective Units of Distress)

A scale for measuring and communicating your level of emotional distress.

Behavior Chain Analysis

A tool for understanding what led to a problem behavior — and what to do about it next time.

Dialectics (both/and thinking)

The core philosophy of DBT: two seemingly opposite things can both be true.