Connecting SEL and DBT: A Shared Focus on Emotional Skills

In a world increasingly focused on emotional well-being and interpersonal connection, frameworks like Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) have gained prominence. While these two approaches emerge from different origins—education and a therapeutic context, respectively—DBT is inclusive of social and emotional learning education and skills, making its principles broadly applicable across various settings. Additionally, the skills taught in DBT, originally developed for therapeutic use, have become broadly applicable across various settings today. At the same time, they possess distinct differences that make each unique in its application and purpose.

What is Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)?

Social and Emotional Learning is an educational approach that helps individuals—often students—acquire and apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, show empathy, establish positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. SEL is most commonly implemented in schools and is designed to benefit all students by integrating these competencies into the curriculum.

Research highlights the profound impact of SEL. Hundreds of studies involving more than 1 million students worldwide across PreK-12 consistently demonstrate that SEL has a positive impact on students' academic achievement. Research findings show SEL programs lead to:

• Economic benefits: Analysis of six evidence-based programs demonstrates that the benefits significantly outweigh the costs, with an estimated 11-dollar return for every dollar invested in SEL.
  
  
• Long-term positive impacts on academic performance: Years after students participated in SEL, their academic performance was an average of 13 percentile points higher than students who didn’t participate.
  
  
• Improved academic performance (an 11% increase in achievement scores).
  
  
• Better classroom behavior.
  
  
• Increased ability to manage stress and depression, similar to how DBT's Distress Tolerance Skills have been shown to reduce stress (source).
  
  
• Long-term benefits like higher rates of employment and mental health stability.
  
  

What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, on the other hand, is a therapeutic intervention originally developed for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Over time, its use has expanded to treat other conditions characterized by emotional dysregulation, such as anxiety, depression, and many many others. DBT combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices, focusing on four key modules:

• Mindfulness: Developing present-moment awareness.
• Distress Tolerance: Building resilience to cope with stress without resorting to harmful behaviors.
• Emotion Regulation: Learning to manage and respond to emotions effectively.
• Interpersonal Effectiveness: Enhancing communication and relationship-building skills.

Similarities Between SEL and DBT

1. Emphasis on Emotional Regulation: Both SEL and DBT prioritize teaching individuals how to understand, process, and manage their emotions. SEL helps students cultivate emotional awareness and self-control to thrive academically and socially. Similarly, DBT equips individuals with practical tools to regulate intense emotions, enabling healthier decision-making.
   
   
2. Interpersonal Skill Development: Building and maintaining positive relationships is central to both approaches. SEL focuses on empathy, effective communication, and conflict resolution, contributing to inclusive and supportive environments. DBT’s interpersonal effectiveness module emphasizes assertiveness, setting boundaries, and navigating complex relationships, particularly in emotionally charged situations.
   
   
3. Evidence-Based Outcomes: Both frameworks are supported by extensive research. SEL’s benefits extend to improved mental health, higher academic achievement, and reduced problem behaviors. DBT has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing self-harm, and emotional dysregulation, significantly improving quality of life for individuals with emotional challenges.
   
   

Key Differences Between SEL and DBT

1. Target Audience:
   
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   • SEL: Designed for universal application in educational settings, SEL is inclusive and addresses the social and emotional needs of all students.
   • DBT: Was initially developed as a therapeutic intervention for individuals with significant emotional or behavioral challenges, DBT has evolved to include psychoeducational applications, like those offered by TheraHive.
2. Delivery Context:
   
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   • SEL: Implemented in classrooms, often by teachers, and integrated into school curricula.
   • DBT: Traditionally delivered by trained therapists in clinical environments, the skills group portion of the intervention is now available a psychoducational offering by firms like TheraHive.
3. Scope of Skills:
   
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   • SEL: Broadly addresses five competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
   • DBT: Focuses on groups of skills, including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness that are largely inclusive of those in SEL.

Bridging SEL and DBT: Opportunities for Integration

While SEL and DBT operate in distinct spheres, integrating principles from DBT into SEL programs can enhance their effectiveness. For instance, introducing mindfulness and distress tolerance techniques from DBT into SEL curricula can provide students with additional tools to navigate stress and emotional challenges. Conversely, SEL’s broad focus on social awareness and decision-making can complement DBT’s structured approach, making it more relatable to everyday scenarios in non-clinical settings.

Conclusion

Social and Emotional Learning and Dialectical Behavior Therapy have a LOT in common despite different origins. SEL programs have traditionally come into the market via educational systems whereas DBT started in a therapeutic context. As often happens in the world of evidence-based mental health education there is a convergence on the strategies and skills that work—whether they are taught in the content of SEL or DBT.

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