The general goal of skills training is to learn to refine skills in changing behavioral, emotional, and thinking patterns associated with problems in living that are causing misery and distress.

Core Mindfulness Skills
Mindfulness is one of the core concepts behind all elements of DBT. Mindfulness is the capacity to pay attention, non-judgmentally, to the present moment. Mindfulness is all about living in the moment, experiencing one’s emotions and senses fully, yet with perspective. It is considered a foundation for the other skills taught in DBT,
because it helps individuals accept and tolerate the powerful emotions they may feel when challenging their habits, patterns of behaviors, or exposing themselves to upsetting situations. This module assists one in learning how to be in control of your own mind, instead of letting your mind be in control of you; it is learning to go within to find oneself and learning to observe oneself. This module assists one in experiencing and identifying a self; decreases a sense of emptiness; and teaches one how to maintain one’s own feelings, opinions, and decisions when around
others.