Integration of DBT Skills and Parent Training for Parents With a History of Substance Use

The DBT Skills +PT group intervention integrates DBT Skills, Parent Management Training (PMT), and Emotion Coaching (EC). Each session includes a mindfulness practice, homework review to discuss use of skills previously learned, didactics to learn a new set of DBT and PT skills, and assignment of homework. The DBT Skills portions cover the four modules of traditional DBT Skills: Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance (including skills specifically focused on managing difficulties with addiction), and Interpersonal Effectiveness. PT skills include both PMT and EC components such as: praise, use of parental attention to reward positive behavior, reward systems, effective commands and consequences, psychoeducation on children's emotional development, teaching children to label emotions, validating children's emotions, and handling children's negative emotions, and fostering positive emotions.