WHO THIS IS FOR

You might recognize yourself here if...

You love someone who experiences emotions intensely, and you want to support them without losing sight of your own experience.

You may find yourself:

• wondering whether to listen, reassure, problem-solve, or give someone space

• wanting to validate what someone is feeling without agreeing with everything being said

• trying to stay grounded when a conversation becomes emotionally intense

• feeling unsure how to set a limit without making someone feel rejected or dismissed

• understanding why someone is upset while also feeling hurt, frustrated, or overwhelmed yourself

• wanting communication tools that don't require either person to be “the problem”

This class is designed for parents, partners or spouses, adult children, siblings, and other family members who want practical tools for navigating relationships where emotions can run high.

You do not have to choose between compassion for your loved one and compassion for yourself. There is room for both.

CLASS STRUCTURE

Each session includes:

• short teaching segments
• examples and demonstrations
• guided reflection activities
• optional chat-based questions

To maintain the educational structure of the class, microphones will remain muted during instruction and participants may submit questions through the chat.

Participants are not asked to share personal situations during class.

WHY I CREATED THIS CLASS

I come to this topic from more than one perspective.

I'm a therapist who has spent years working with emotion dysregulation and teaching DBT skills. I'm also a highly sensitive person who knows what it is like to experience emotions very deeply.

I created this class from the understanding that distress in relationships can become reciprocal. When one person is overwhelmed, the other may become activated too, and both people’s responses can begin shaping what happens next.

I created it from the belief that both people are having a real experience.

Learning these skills can help you manage your own emotions, communicate more effectively, and respond with greater intention. And while you cannot control another person’s behavior or emotional response, using these skills can model different ways of regulating, communicating, and navigating conflict that may help create conditions for change within the relationship.

We can learn to understand someone's emotions more clearly, communicate validation, and respond differently, and we can do that while still honoring our own emotions, needs, and limits.

DBT Skills Studio

DBT Studios is an educational program offered by DBT Ozarks.

These classes teach practical DBT-informed skills that people can apply in everyday life and relationships.

The goal of DBT Skills Studio is to make evidence-based communication and emotion regulation strategies accessible in an educational format outside of therapy.

Classes focus on learning and practicing skills that can support healthier interactions, reduce conflict escalation, and increase understanding in relationships.