General Skills: Orientation and Behavior Analysis
If you need orientation first before you break down the behavior or suitable skills in more detail.
Combine the logic of skills orientation and behavior analysis so that problematic behavior is not only evaluated, but functionally understood and changeable.
When does this fit?
When a single skill is not needed immediately, but rather an overall functional orientation towards behavior and its analysis.
Priority in the path
This node is more about preparation, stabilization, or later deepening around orientation and understanding.
What this is about
General Skills Orientation and Behavior Analysis is the DBT general skills module that orients participants to the overall structure of the program, the biosocial theory, and the tools of behavioral analysis. It provides the conceptual foundation before module-specific skills are taught: why DBT approaches emotion dysregulation the way it does, what chain analysis is and how to use it, and how to apply missing-links analysis when effective behavior is absent.
The orientation module ensures that participants have a shared understanding of the treatment logic before engaging with specific skill content, and that behavioral assessment tools are established early as a regular part of the treatment.
The components
Chain Analysis
If, after a difficult event, it should be clear where the chain began, how it was built up and where different interventions can be made in the future.Missing-Links Analysis
When an analysis needs to be resolved more finely to make overlooked steps, transitions or influencing factors visible.
Related exercise
Chain Analysis of Problem Behavior Worksheet
Related practice
When a problematic episode should be reconstructed step by step with a clear chain analysis worksheet.
Missing Links Analysis Worksheet
Related practice
When missing intermediate steps and skill gaps should be made visible with a clear worksheet.
Explore and apply
These nodes lead from the conceptual frame of reference into the first concrete application or deepening.
Foundations and training practice
Orientation and behaviour analysis provide the introductory content. The manual structure shows its place in the overall work, programme design describes the training structure, and training strategies explain how skills are taught.
Linehan Manual Structure
If, before detailed work, an orientation overview of the structure and structure of the manual is needed.
Also in: Mindfulness · Distress Tolerance · Emotion Regulation · Interpersonal Effectiveness
DBT Skills Training Program Design
When a higher-level view of the planning, composition and sequence of the training program is needed.
Also in: Mindfulness · Distress Tolerance · Emotion Regulation · Interpersonal Effectiveness
DBT Strategies in Skills Training
When not only the what, but the strategic how of skills training should be understood.
Also in: Distress Tolerance · Emotion Regulation · Interpersonal Effectiveness
Sources and references
Show where this node comes from and how source-near or practice-near it is.