The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Shame

“Shame is an emotion that when mishandled can significantly limit our lives and relationships. This thoughtful book offers a comprehensive road map to understanding shame and addressing its often invisible but powerful hold over us. The authors translate the robust set of skills in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) into practical, accessible tools that can change our relationship with shame in a step-by-step fashion. Best read actively from beginning to end, it provides a clear and hopeful pathway for anyone seeking to understand and liberate themselves from the burdens of this difficult emotion. Highly recommended.”
—Steven C. Hayes, PhD, originator of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and author of A Liberated Mind -- Steven C. Hayes, PhD
“These prolific and knowledgeable authors have created a self-help workbook, using DBT skills to target shame, one of the most painful and intractable emotions. Chapman and Gratz use clear language to offer practical applications of the DBT skills, as well as providing ample clinical vignettes and engaging self-assessments and exercises to guide clients toward seeking relief from shame. I love how this book helps readers conceptualize, reduce vulnerability to, and reduce their shame.”
—Jill Rathus, PhD, codirector of Cognitive Behavioral Associates, NY; professor of psychology at LIU; and coauthor of DBT Skills Manual for Adolescents and DBT with Suicidal Adolescents -- Jill Rathus, PhD
“The emotion of shame can be debilitating for so many people. This book gives us invaluable information, with detailed and realistic examples and worksheets for taming shame using DBT skills. Loving ourselves and realizing that we all have a place in this universe, what a beautiful gift this book is, an essential read for those who struggle with shame and for all those who love them.”
—Lynn Courey, CSW, founder and president of The Sashbear Foundation, helping families with skills and hope -- Lynn Courey, CSW
“Shame is a painful and complex emotional experience for many people, and even more so if it is an emotion that endures. Therapists rarely focus on shame, and while many patients find therapy useful in general, for many patients shame persists even after therapy has ended. DBT experts Chapman and Gratz have delivered a step-by-step approach for addressing shame, one that will help not only those who struggle with the emotion, but one that will also provide useful ideas for therapists unfamiliar with treating the experience. Highly recommended!”
—Blaise Aguirre, MD, founding medical director of 3East DBT Continuum McLean Hospital, and assistant professor in psychiatry in the Harvard Medical School department of psychiatry -- Blaise Aguirre, MD
“In this essential workbook, Chapman and Gratz provide step-by-step guidance on managing the painful emotion of shame. This easy-to-read text provides a compassionate framework for understanding shame, and practical tips for preventing, reducing, and effectively coping with it when it arises. This includes skills for reducing vulnerability, managing painful sensations, dealing with negative thoughts, changing unhelpful action urges, managing interpersonal consequences, and increasing self-acceptance—accompanied by clinical vignettes and practice exercises. For anyone struggling with shame—this manual is indispensable.”
—Thomas R. Lynch, PhD, emeritus professor in the school of psychology at the University of Southampton, UK; and author of Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy -- Thomas R. Lynch, PhD
“This book provides a long-awaited, contemporary examination of shame—offering clear explanations, practical guidance, and effective recovery strategies. It’s an invaluable resource for anyone who is struggling with problematic shame, providing hope and empowerment for a healthier, more fulfilled life.”
—Shelley McMain, PhD, senior scientist and head of the Borderline Personality Disorder Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and associate professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Toronto -- Shelley McMain, PhD
“If you suffer from excessive or unwarranted shame, or are trying to help someone deal with this painful emotion, you will find few resources based on evidence-based principles or practice. In this brilliant, much-needed book, Chapman and Gratz convey in a clear, practical manner how to use skills drawn from DBT—a treatment with strong research support for treating emotional and behavioral disorders—to combat shame’s devastating impact.”
—Clive J. Robins, PhD, ABPP, professor emeritus of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at Duke University; and trainer and consultant at Behavioral Tech, LLC -- Clive J. Robins, PhD, ABPP