Musical DBT-informed activities that equip educators, therapists, and parents with tools to reach the social and emotional needs of children through fresh and creative activities.
By:
Various Authors
Foreword by:
Alycia Dadd PhD
Edited by:
Deborah Spiegel,
Lauren Bonavitacola,
Suzanne Makary
Imprint: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: Illustrated edition
Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
ISBN: 9781805013211
ISBN 10: 1805013211
Pages: 224
Publication Date: 21 November 2025
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Primary
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
Foreword I. Introduction A. Explanation of DBT and how it can be used to help children B. Overview of how music can be incorporated into DBT activities C. How to use this book II. Principles of Dialectics A. Explanation of dialectics, its importance in DBT B. Music activities for teaching the concept of dialectics to children Dialectics: Opposites Change: Move My Statue Truth in Different Interpretations: Draw and Describe III. Mindfulness A. Explanation of mindfulness, its importance in DBT B. Music activities for teaching mindfulness skills to children General Mindfulness: Mindfulness Wise Mind: Musical States of Mind What skills/Observe: Notice my Breath What Skill/ Observe: Catch the Breath What Skill/ Observe: Rainbow What Skill/ Observe: Use My Senses What Skill/ Describe: The Train What Skill/ Participate: I Like the Flowers What Skill/ Participate: Listen for the Word What Skill/ Observe, Describe, Participate: Name That Instrument What Skill/ Observe, Describe, Participate: Song Listening How Skill/Stay Focused: Dance it Out How Skill/ Stay Focused: Musical Workout How Skill/ Don't Judge: Row Row Fact or Foe How Skill/ Do What Works: New Moves Mindfulness Review: Wise Mind, What Skills: Roller Coaster Ride Mindfulness Review: Participate, Don't Judge, Do What Works: Loving Kindness All Mindfulness Skills: Mindfulness Monsters IV. Distress Tolerance A. Explanation of distress tolerance and its importance in DBT B. Music activities for teaching distress tolerance skills to children STOP: Healthy Choices Freeze Dance STOP: Stop and Sing STOP: Shake Don't Shout Wise Mind ACCEPTS/Activities: Favorites Wise Mind ACCEPTS/ Contributing: Help One Another Wise Mind ACCEPTS/ Comparison: Colors Wise Mind ACCEPTS/with other EmotionsMusic to Change My Mood Wise Mind ACCEPTS/Push Away: Lock and Key Wise Mind ACCEPTS/with other Thoughts: Changing Our Thoughts Wise Mind ACCEPTS/Senses: Shocking Senses IMPROVE the moment/Imagery: Create Your World IMPROVE the moment/ Meaning: Rainy Days IMPROVE the moment/Prayer: Reflections IMPROVE the moment/Relaxing Actions: How I Relax IMPROVE the moment/One Thing in the Moment: One Moment Please IMPROVE the moment/Vacation: Vacation Spots IMPROVE the moment/Encouragement: I Know I Can IMPROVE the moment/ Self-Encouragement: It is Me TIP: Tea Pot Tip TIP: Grizzly Bear Grump TIP: Breathe Self Soothe: Calming Senses, Big Emotions Pros & Cons: Pros & Cons Song Radical Acceptance: The Acceptance Tree Radical Acceptance: Turn the Mind Radical Acceptance/Willingness and Willing Hands: Willing to Try V. Emotion Regulation A. Explanation of emotion regulation and its importance in DBT B. Music activities for teaching emotion regulation skills to children Functions of Emotions: What Do My Emotions Do Understanding Emotions: Name My Emotions Understanding Emotions: Musical Chairs Meet My Feelings Understanding Emotions: My Body My Emotions Changing Emotions/Checking the Facts: Checking the Facts Changing Emotions/ Opposite Action: Act Opposite Changing Emotions/ Problem Solving: I've Been Working on a Problem Decreasing vulnerabilities/ Accumulating Positives: Find the Fun! Decreasing vulnerabilities/ Accumulating Positive Experiences in the Long Term: Make New Friends Decreasing vulnerabilities/ Building Mastery: Cups & Claps Decreasing vulnerabilities/Cope Ahead: I Think I Can Decreasing vulnerabilities/ PLEASE : I'm Going on a Picnic Decreasing vulnerabilities/ ABC: ABC Skills Review Decreasing vulnerabilities/ Mindfulness of Current Emotions -The Wave Skill: Ride the Wave VI. Interpersonal Effectiveness A. Explanation of interpersonal effectiveness and its importance in DBT B. Music activities for teaching interpersonal effectiveness skills to children DEARMAN/ Entire skill: Dearman song DEARMAN/Describe: Describe DEARMAN/Express and Assert/ask: Stop Friend DEARMAN/Reinforce: Reinforce, Thank you GIVE/Gentle: G is for Gentle GIVE/Act Interested: Act Interested GIVE/ Validate: Active Listening GIVE/ Easy Manner: Easy Expressions FAST: Fast Friends VII. Using Music to Reinforce DBT Skills at Home VIII. Conclusion A. Summary of key takeaways from the book B. Additional resources for further study and implementation of music-based DBT activities for children.
Deborah Spiegel Deborah Spiegel MT-BC is CEO and director of the DBT-Informed Music Therapy Centre. She and her team also provide a comprehensive DBT-informed music therapy training program for music therapists through the Spiegel Academy. She has a passion for using music therapy to support patients in strengthening DBT skills. Suzanne Makary is a Board-Certified Music Therapist who has spent her career serving adults and adolescents with mental health challenges. Since 1997, Suzanne has worked with an interdisciplinary team in the Partial Hospitalization setting. Chelsea Steen, MT-BC, is a board-certified music therapist serving children, teens, and young adults. Chelsea developed a music therapy program in a children's residential treatment center, and continues to work in an outpatient setting. As a DBT-informed music therapist, she holds groups and sessions focused on building skills through music. Lauren Bonavitacola is a clinical psychologist, certified Clinician, and board-certified music therapist. She was the founder and director of the Trauma Program at Cognitive & Behavioural Consultants of Westchester and Manhattan. She has first-hand experience teaching DBT to school staff, school clinicians, teachers, and administrators.
Reviews for Creative DBT Activities for Children Using Music
A great resource for any skills teaching programme introducing DBT to younger children. The musical activities have been imaginatively linked to DBT skills helping to make the concepts accessible to younger minds. Each chapter includes a session plan, suggested adaptations and links to supporting resources for flexible use. -- Stephanie Hastings PhD, Co-Deputy Director PG Dip DBT, Bangor University
