Name That Skill
What does “emotion regulation” mean in DBT?
Understanding and managing emotions so they work for you, not against you.
What does the acronym PLEASE stand for?
Treat Physical illness, balance Eating, avoid (non-prescribed) mood-Altering substances, balance Sleep, get Exercise.
What is Opposite Action?
Doing the opposite of your emotion’s urge when the emotion doesn’t fit the facts or is unhelpful.
What is the goal of “Check the Facts”?
To make sure your emotion fits the actual situation.
Why is staff modeling emotion regulation so important?
Clients learn emotional safety by watching staff handle strong feelings calmly.
What’s the first step to regulating any emotion?
Identify and label what emotion you’re feeling. (“Name it to tame it.”)
Why are PLEASE skills important for clients and staff?
Physical wellness supports emotional stability and reduces vulnerability to dysregulation.
A client is sad and wants to isolate — what’s the Opposite Action?
Engage socially, take a walk, do something active.
Why is Check the Facts helpful for staff?
It prevents personalizing client behavior and keeps interactions clinical, not emotional.
Give an example of a staff member modeling a regulation skill during conflict.
Taking a slow breath, lowering tone, or saying “I’m noticing I’m getting frustrated, so I’ll take a second.”
What does “ABC” stand for in DBT Emotion Regulation?
Accumulate positive emotions, Build mastery, Cope ahead.
Which part of PLEASE would you focus on if a client skips meals and gets irritable?
E – Eating (balanced nutrition affects mood regulation).
A BHS feels angry and wants to raise their voice at a defiant client. What’s the Opposite Action?
Speak calmly, lower tone, use validation.
A client says “You hate me!” What’s a Check the Facts response?
“I hear that you feel disliked, but I care about you and want to support you.”
How can modeling emotion regulation impact the whole milieu?
It lowers collective stress, promotes trust, and normalizes healthy coping.
What is the purpose of DBT Emotion Regulation skills?
To decrease emotional vulnerability and reduce extreme reactions.
What does it mean when we say “PLEASE is preventive”?
Using PLEASE skills helps prevent emotional crises before they start.
Why does Opposite Action work?
It changes the physiological and behavioral patterns that keep emotions stuck.
What’s one question to ask yourself when checking the facts?
“What actually happened?” or “Is there evidence my assumption is true?”
A BHS gets flustered when a client yells but stays grounded and validates instead of reacting. What DBT skill are they modeling?
Opposite Action (and possibly GIVE).
Which DBT skill helps you prepare before a difficult situation or shift?
Cope Ahead. Plan, visualize, and rehearse your response before the situation occurs.
How can staff model PLEASE on the job?
By showing self-care, taking breaks, hydrating, maintaining calm — demonstrating that regulation starts with the body.
Give a real example of using Opposite Action in the milieu.
Example: Feeling frustrated during a chaotic group → choosing to use humor or grounding instead of withdrawing.
What’s the difference between checking the facts and invalidating emotions?
Checking facts questions the situation, not the emotion’s validity — all emotions are real, even if they don’t fit the facts.
What’s the biggest sign that a team is modeling regulation well?
The milieu stays emotionally stable even when one client is dysregulated — staff energy anchors the environment.