Creative DBT Activities for Children Using Music

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.

• ForewordI. IntroductionA. Explanation of DBT and how it can be used to help childrenB. Overview of how music can be incorporated into DBT activitiesC. How to use this bookII. Principles of DialecticsA. Explanation of dialectics, its importance in DBTB. Music activities for teaching the concept of dialectics to childrenDialectics: OppositesChange: Move My StatueTruth in Different Interpretations: Draw and DescribeIII. MindfulnessA. Explanation of mindfulness, its importance in DBTB. Music activities for teaching mindfulness skills to childrenGeneral Mindfulness: Mindfulness Wise Mind: Musical States of MindWhat skills/Observe: Notice my BreathWhat Skill/ Observe: Catch the BreathWhat Skill/ Observe: RainbowWhat Skill/ Observe: Use My SensesWhat Skill/ Describe: The TrainWhat Skill/ Participate: I Like the FlowersWhat Skill/ Participate: Listen for the WordWhat Skill/ Observe, Describe, Participate: Name That InstrumentWhat Skill/ Observe, Describe, Participate: Song ListeningHow Skill/Stay Focused: Dance it OutHow Skill/ Stay Focused: Musical WorkoutHow Skill/ Don't Judge: Row Row Fact or FoeHow Skill/ Do What Works: New MovesMindfulness Review: Wise Mind, What Skills: Roller Coaster RideMindfulness Review: Participate, Don't Judge, Do What Works: Loving KindnessAll Mindfulness Skills: Mindfulness MonstersIV. Distress ToleranceA. Explanation of distress tolerance and its importance in DBTB. Music activities for teaching distress tolerance skills to childrenSTOP: Healthy Choices Freeze DanceSTOP: Stop and Sing STOP: Shake Don't ShoutWise Mind ACCEPTS/Activities: FavoritesWise Mind ACCEPTS/ Contributing: Help One AnotherWise Mind ACCEPTS/ Comparison: ColorsWise Mind ACCEPTS/with other EmotionsMusic to Change My MoodWise Mind ACCEPTS/Push Away: Lock and KeyWise Mind ACCEPTS/with other Thoughts: Changing Our ThoughtsWise Mind ACCEPTS/Senses: Shocking SensesIMPROVE the moment/Imagery: Create Your WorldIMPROVE the moment/ Meaning: Rainy DaysIMPROVE the moment/Prayer: ReflectionsIMPROVE the moment/Relaxing Actions: How I RelaxIMPROVE the moment/One Thing in the Moment: One Moment PleaseIMPROVE the moment/Vacation: Vacation SpotsIMPROVE the moment/Encouragement: I Know I CanIMPROVE the moment/ Self-Encouragement: It is MeTIP: Tea Pot TipTIP: Grizzly Bear GrumpTIP: BreatheSelf Soothe: Calming Senses, Big EmotionsPros & Cons: Pros & Cons SongRadical Acceptance: The Acceptance TreeRadical Acceptance: Turn the MindRadical Acceptance/Willingness and Willing Hands: Willing to TryV. Emotion RegulationA. Explanation of emotion regulation and its importance in DBTB. Music activities for teaching emotion regulation skills to childrenFunctions of Emotions: What Do My Emotions DoUnderstanding Emotions: Name My EmotionsUnderstanding Emotions: Musical Chairs Meet My FeelingsUnderstanding Emotions: My Body My EmotionsChanging Emotions/Checking the Facts: Checking the FactsChanging Emotions/ Opposite Action: Act OppositeChanging Emotions/ Problem Solving: I've Been Working on a ProblemDecreasing vulnerabilities/ Accumulating Positives: Find the Fun!Decreasing vulnerabilities/ Accumulating Positive Experiences in the Long Term: Make New FriendsDecreasing vulnerabilities/ Building Mastery: Cups & ClapsDecreasing vulnerabilities/Cope Ahead: I Think I CanDecreasing vulnerabilities/ PLEASE : I'm Going on a PicnicDecreasing vulnerabilities/ ABC: ABC Skills ReviewDecreasing vulnerabilities/ Mindfulness of Current Emotions -The Wave Skill: Ride the WaveVI. Interpersonal EffectivenessA. Explanation of interpersonal effectiveness and its importance in DBTB. Music activities for teaching interpersonal effectiveness skills to children DEARMAN/ Entire skill: Dearman songDEARMAN/Describe: DescribeDEARMAN/Express and Assert/ask: Stop FriendDEARMAN/Reinforce: Reinforce, Thank youGIVE/Gentle: G is for GentleGIVE/Act Interested: Act InterestedGIVE/ Validate: Active ListeningGIVE/ Easy Manner: Easy ExpressionsFAST: Fast FriendsVII. Using Music to Reinforce DBT Skills at HomeVIII. ConclusionA. Summary of key takeaways from the bookB. Additional resources for further study and implementation of music-based DBT activities for children.

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.