Powerful and evidence-based dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills to help you heal from traumas, balance emotions, and feel safe in the present moment.

If you’ve experienced chronic, multiple, or ongoing instances of trauma, you may be experiencing complex post-traumatic stress disorder, or CPTSD—and one-size-fits-all treatment methods just aren’t enough. In this evidence-based workbook, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) expert Sheri Van Dijk combines cutting-edge research and evidence-based skills to help you feel safer and more stable, and recognize and reconcile traumas, so you can take charge of your life.

Based in DBT, polyvagal theory, and other proven-effective modalities, this powerful and accessible workbook will help you process and manage intense emotions, free yourself from self-destructive behaviors, and feel more stable—and safe—in the present. You’ll also find customizable skills to help you:

• Overcome hypervigilance, psychic numbing, and avoidance
• Recognize and eliminate dissociation as a survival instinct
• Minimize the toll your traumas are taking on your physical health
• Build and maintain healthy relationships
• Work through distress as it arises—before it reawakens trauma
• Find meaning and purpose in your life

What happened to you in your past wasn’t your fault, and it doesn’t have to define your future. Drawing on the best practices of DBT and polyvagal theory, this vital workbook will help you begin healing and reclaim wholeness.

Sheri Van Dijk's profile page

Sheri Van Dijk, MSW, is a psychotherapist and renowned dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) expert. She is author of many books with New Harbinger, including Don’t Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Teens and The DBT Workbook for Emotional Relief. Her work has focused on using DBT skills to help people manage their emotions and cultivate lasting well-being. In recent years, Sheri has been specializing in complex trauma.

“Whether used as an adjunct to therapy or as a self-help guide, this workbook adeptly offers readers a plethora of practical bottom-up and top-down strategies to support healing and wellness. Through an integrative approach that expertly balances psychoeducation and skills among multiple trauma-informed modalities, the reader is provided with therapeutic tools that support reflection, personal meaning-making, and ultimately meaningful change.”
—Jillian Hosey, MSW, RSW, LICSW, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) trainer, ISSTD fellow, and coeditor of The Handbook of Complex Trauma and Dissociation in Children

Jillian Hosey, MSW, RSW, LICSW

“Learning behavioral skills with Sheri Van Dijk is like learning astrophysics from Neil deGrasse Tyson: a topic that could be complicated to the point of overwhelming becomes relatable, fun, and inspiring. While polyvagal theory, DBT, and ego-state therapy each offer vital resources for healing from complex trauma, it can be difficult to access them all in one place. This workbook offers a beautiful synthesis of ideas and practices from all three approaches.”
—Alejandra Lindan, registered psychotherapist in private practice

Alejandra Lindan

“It felt as if you could hear the book speaking to you! It is a beyond insightful read for individuals affected by trauma and helping professionals alike. The book serves as a practical guide in understanding the transformative impact of trauma, and provides clarity and directions for trauma treatment. DBT skills are well detailed in supporting healing and recovery. I can’t wait to share this book with my clients.”
—Shivani Gupta, MSW, RSW, EMDRIA, certified therapist in EMDR; and clinical director at Oakridges Therapy Centre in Ontario, Canada

Shivani Gupta, MSW, RSW, EMDRIA

“Van Dijk has gifted us an incredible workbook that embodies the principles of trauma work through its structure, tone, and guidance. This DBT skills book is the perfect companion for both therapists and clients on the journey of healing trauma. It offers essential skills and psychoeducation, making it an invaluable resource for supporting trauma survivors. A must-have for anyone committed to trauma recovery and healing.”
—Zainib Abdullah, MSW, RSW, RYT, founder and executive director at Wellnest, a psychotherapy clinic in Toronto, ON, Canada

Zainib Abdullah, MSW, RSW, RYT

“What a welcome addition to Sheri Van Dijk’s dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) books. This one incorporates trauma work in a gentle way, drawing on Van Dijk’s knowledge of the nervous system and how its internal parts work. Exercises facilitate and deepen learning. Throughout the book, Van Dijk encourages the reader to be patient, going at a pace comfortable for them. This book is a treasure for the layperson or clinical professional.”
—Betsy Landau, PhD, NYS-licensed psychologist in private practice

Betsy Landau, PhD

“As a clinical trauma therapist, The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for CPTSD is a must-read. This book offers a practical guide to understanding and healing from complex trauma. It explains how trauma affects life, and introduces DBT skills for distress tolerance, mindfulness, emotion regulation, and building connections. The workbook empowers individuals to enhance their strengths and lead fulfilling lives, making it an essential resource for individuals and clinicians.”
—Eliza Fernandes, MSW, RSW, founder and clinical director of a private practice specializing in trauma, with more than twenty-two years of experience in the field

Eliza Fernandes, MSW, RSW

“Whether you are someone looking to better understand trauma or a seasoned therapist, this book offers invaluable insights and practical guidance that will provide opportunity for reflection and to enrich your therapeutic toolkit. Through the lens of polyvagal theory, parts work, and DBT, the author provides clarity and compassion in navigating the intricate terrain of trauma. Each chapter is crafted with empathy and expertise. Drawing from years of clinical experience, Sheri unravels the complexities of trauma allowing for a transformed awareness to facilitate profound healing.”
—Jodi-Lyn Knoop, MSW, RSW, social worker and clinical director at Turning Stones Therapy

Jodi-Lyn Knoop, MSW, RSW