DBT Informed Music Therapy Program
Grow your skills, strategies, and confidence to help clients navigate life’s challenges
Is This Training Right for You?
Watch the program overview video below to see what’s included and what you can expect.
Limited to 10 participants
Enrollment closes Sept 15, 2026 or when all spots are full.
Self-study foundation classes start immediately.
Orientation starts October 19th, 2026
Why This Training Matters
for Music Therapists
Gain a Complete Toolkit to Transform Lives,
Including Your Own
In this program, you’ll cultivate the depth, structure, and confidence to help clients navigate life’s challenges and create their own “life worth living.”
- Practical, ready-to-use formulas for mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness
- Confidence to support clients with impulsive behaviors and dysregulated emotions - guiding them toward lasting change they can carry into the rest of their lives
- The ability to cope with difficult situations in your own life using the very skills you teach
As a music therapist, you’ll add a powerful dimension to DBT skills training - helping clients learn, practice, and remember skills so they actually use them when they need them most.
Upon completion, you’ll earn:
- 100 CMTE credits
- A professional credential recognizing your demonstrated competency as a DBT Informed Music Therapist
Join the movement as we combine DBT skills with music therapy to help your clients
"build a life worth living!"
Why Peggy Tileston Recommends This Training to Every Music Therapist
Peggy Tileston MT-BC
Clinical Training Coordinator, Temple University
Graduate of the DBT Informed Music Therapy Program
Peggy shares 4 reasons she recommends this training:
- Personal growth and integrity from applying DBT skills yourself
- Exceptional clinical supervision to integrate DBT into your practice
- A supportive cohort community of like-minded peers
- 100 CMTE credits
Watch Peggy’s Story:
Is this familiar?
You discover DBT and realize how much it could help your clients…
So you:
- Buy books and scour the internet for ideas
- Spend hours experimenting and troubleshooting
- Try to piece together DBT and music therapy on your own
But without a proven, evidence-based system, progress is slow and frustrating.
You may:
- Struggle to adapt DBT skills for your clients in a way that actually sticks
- Wish you had a ready-to-go set of coping skills for crisis moments
- Feel left out of the treatment team conversation because you don’t “speak DBT” fluently
- Spend hours reinventing the wheel instead of confidently implementing skills in your sessions
The Changes This Training Can Bring to You and Your Clients
Deep Knowledge & Proven Methods
- Gain a complete and thorough study of DBT skills with music therapy applications, giving you a repertoire of coping skills to support both your clients and yourself
- Learn an evidence-based, tried-and-true system you can adapt to your own clientele to make a greater impact
Applying DBT Skills in Your Practice
- Teach DBT skills in the context of music therapy sessions or as a co-leader in DBT skills training groups
- Receive a full year of professional supervision while implementing what you learn, building confidence in your ability to apply DBT through music therapy
- Become fluent in DBT terminology and collaborate easily with other clinicians to share ideas and strategies that improve client outcomes
- Communicate effectively across disciplines and coordinate group planning within the DBT structure so your skills are recognized and valued
Impact on Client Outcomes
- Help clients manage crises and regulate emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and actions, leading to greater stability and fewer hospitalizations
- Select the right DBT skills to use when clients present with different issues and behaviors
- Create and implement effective music therapy interventions within the DBT framework so clients learn and remember skills they can use in daily life
Career Growth & Recognition
- Attract new clients and income opportunities by joining existing DBT programs or integrating DBT into your private practice
- Maintain high standards of excellence through advanced training and education.
- Feel confident in your role as a DBT Informed Music Therapist, knowing how to work within a DBT milieu or apply DBT in your own music therapy practice
- Earn a credential from The Spiegel Academy recognizing you as a DBT Informed Music Therapist with demonstrated competency in DBT practice
Hear from Graduates of the Training
"This is a very well put together program and the instructors are impressively knowledgeable - at the top of their game."
I learned a new skill set that I had never learned before in school or anywhere. The DBT skills are very useful and applicable with all populations. Being able to have all the skills for mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness to integrate into my music therapy has helped me address behavior, emotion regulation and communication issues with my clients."
Rachael Williams MT-BC
"This DBT informed Music Therapist training has been profoundly beneficial both personally and professionally. My intention was to learn tools to use with my clients, which I have, and the supervision has been priceless. The bonus to me is being able to implement the skills myself and how it has improved my own life."
Betsey Carle MT-BC
"The DBT Informed Music Therapy Program I completed at the Spiegel Academy is the best music therapy training I have ever taken..."
"I not only earned 100 CMTEs in a year, for a very comparable price I might add, but I now also have a credential and an effective evidence based skillset to use with a wide variety of populations."
Stephen King MT-BC
"This changed my life! I felt like I was putting a band aide on a booboo with my music therapy and now I feel like I am equipped to bring my clients real life strategies that not only help them today but for life."
Kelly Howard MT-BC
"Since taking the training from The Spiegel Academy, I developed a DBT skills group with the psychologist. We did research to show the effectiveness of combining music therapy with traditional skills training. "
Lindsey Landeck MT-BC
"My career has skyrocketed! I went from not knowing much about DBT to becoming a director at my facility. Having this knowledge in DBT really elevates you. It’s amazing! If you need direction in your music therapy career, please do it. I now know what the rest of my life is gonna look like."
Arianna Morelli, MT-BC
Ready to Create Your Own Success Story?
The DBT Informed Music Therapy Training Program
is limited to 10 participants per cohort.
Your first step is to apply for the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be able to run DBT skills groups as a result of this training?
The multiple layers of this program give you the ground work to learn, understand, and apply DBT skills in your practice. The curriculum is designed to delve into DBT skills straight from Linehan’s work through independent reading, working the skills step by step to deepen ways to understand, practice verbiage to teach them, explore personal use in a skills-training group like setting, and practice application as a music therapist. Supervision rounds out the training over several months to solidify and strengthen confidence in teaching DBT skills in your music therapy practice in meaningful application.
How much time will it take?
About 6-8 hours a month.
The first month is for completing the self-study classes. Month 2-12 you'll attend weekly meetings (Monday nights) and complete monthly assignments for learning the skills and how to implement them through music therapy.
Is there any research on DBT and music therapy?
In a recent study completed at Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital, a music therapist and a psychologist compared traditional DBT skills groups with skills training that included music therapy. The results on client outcomes were favorable for music. The results were published in the Journal of Music Therapy and can be viewed here.
Dr. Lauren Bonavitacola wrote about research in the introduction to the book Creative DBT Activities Using Music: Interventions for Enhancing Engagement and Effectiveness in Therapy. You can read what she wrote here.
Who teaches this training, and what are their qualifications in DBT and music therapy?
You’ll be learning from a team of board-certified music therapists and DBT-trained clinicians who bring real-world expertise and deep DBT experience.
Deborah Spiegel, MT‑BC (Program Co‑Founder & Lead Instructor)
Board-certified music therapist with over four decades of experience, integrating DBT into clinical work since 2001 and author of two books: Creative DBT Activities Using Music, and Creative DBT Activities for Children Using Music.
Suzanne Makary, MT‑BC (Participant Supervisor & DBT‑Trained MT)
DBT Informed Music Therapist with extensive experience facilitating DBT‑integrated sessions in behavioral health. Co-Author of two books: Creative DBT Activities Using Music and Creative DBT Activities for Children Using Music.
Kim Johnson, MT‑BC, LMHC (Participant Supervisor & DBT‑Trained MT Clinician)
Trained intensively in DBT through Behavioral Tech, applying skills in both music therapy and clinical counseling.
Lindsey Landeck, MT‑BC (Implementation & Q&A Facilitator)
One of the first to graduate our program in 2011, works at a psych hospital as lead DBT person where she and her psychologist completed and published research on DBT and MT.
Stephen King MT-BC (Implementation & Q&A Facilitator)
Has years of experience implementing DBT informed music therapy in his online and off line practice.
Dr. Lauren Bonavitacola, PsyD, MT‑BC (Senior Clinical Advisor)
Co‑creator of the curriculum, now serving as senior advisor providing high‑level clinical consultation and guidance.
Bailey Hinz MA, MT-BC, LPMT, LMSW, CSW-I (Facilitator & DBT‑Informed MT)
Facilitates program training and applies DBT in both private practice and adolescent partial hospitalization programs.
Kelly Howard MT-BC (Customer Success Manager: DBT Support Specialist)
Supports participants from enrollment through completion, ensuring a smooth, well‑supported training experience.
Does DBT only apply to borderline personality disorder?
Not at all. While DBT was originally developed for borderline personality disorder, it’s now used effectively with a wide range of diagnoses and in many settings - including schools, prisons, addiction recovery programs, and general mental health care.
Music therapists and other clinicians also use DBT skills with children, adolescents, adults, and seniors; in hospice; with hospital staff; for wellness and self-development; and with clients of varying abilities.
Here are examples from music therapists who have successfully integrated DBT into diverse settings and populations:
"Bringing what I learned back to the kids, and using it on myself has helped a lot with difficulties in sessions. This is definitely something they need and I was able to adapt it like I adapt anything I do with them."
Chelsea Josephson MT-BC
MT in Residential Treatment for Children
with Cognitive Delays & Challenging Behaviors
"This training refreshed me with a lot of new ideas, a new direction, and a good understanding. I really appreciated not just reading about it, but the videos and the live feedback. It was very validating because sometimes being the only music therapist you feel on an island by yourself."
Suzanne Makary MT-BC
Adult Acute Mental Health
Partial Hospitalization Program
"I LOVE DBT skills. They are helpful for anybody on so many levels.
Victoria Mierlak MT-BC
Adolescent Residential Care:
Mental Health w/ Criminal Charges
Is this worth it for me?
This training is designed to give you skills you can use throughout your career, not just with one population or in one setting. You’ll learn a structured, evidence-based approach you can integrate into your music therapy practice, while receiving the supervision and support to actually put it into practice. Many participants also tell us that learning and practicing DBT skills has had a meaningful impact on their own lives.
What exactly is included in this program?
Your Complete DBT Informed Music Therapy Training Package
1 year Training Program • 100 CMTEs
This comprehensive year-long training will transform the way you approach challenging clinical situations and give you specialized skills you can immediately apply in your music therapy practice. Along the way, you'll receive more than $12,000 in expert training, tools, and bonuses, all for much less than you might expect.
Through a combination of self-paced learning, weekly live training, supervision, consultation, and hands-on implementation, you'll gain the knowledge, confidence, and practical experience to integrate DBT into your music therapy practice.
Your Training Includes:
- A complete DBT skills foundation through self-study classes, readings, and experiential activities.
- Weekly live online training sessions with our DBT-trained music therapy faculty for skills practice, case application, and real-time feedback.
- Hands-on implementation support so you can begin applying DBT skills effectively in your setting.
- Structured supervision and mentoring from experienced DBT-informed board certified music therapists.
- Peer collaboration in a supportive learning community of fellow music therapists.
- Access to proven music-based DBT interventions to enhance client engagement, motivation, and retention.
- DBT-Informed Music Therapist certificate upon successful completion (or equivalent designation for other disciplines).
At a Glance
✅ One-year guided training program
✅ 100 CMTEs
✅ Weekly live online training
✅ Hands-on implementation support
✅ Supervision, mentoring, and consultation
✅ Music-based DBT interventions
✅ Supportive community of fellow music therapists
✅ DBT-Informed Music Therapist certificate upon completion
✅ Limited to 10 participants per cohort
*** This program is for clinicians who already hold a credential
as a Board Certified Music Therapist or other allied profession. ***
TUITION
Total Training Value:
= $12,445
Your Investment:
$5,000
When paid in full
OR
$1,000 down
+12 monthly payments of $375
Need a different payment structure?
We can explore additional options during your enrollment call.
Because this is a small cohort training with supervision and consultation, enrollment begins with a short application. This allows us to discuss fit, your goals, and the best path forward.
Limited to 10 participants per cohort.
Bring a Colleague: Enroll with another music therapist and you'll each save $500 on tuition.
Employer Funding
Many participants receive full or partial employer funding for this program. We've created resources to help you start that conversation.
1. Use the following script when you talk to your employer about the training and request funding. (Edit it to suit your situation.)
2. Share the Employer Overview Page to start the conversation. (Print it or email it directly to your decision‑maker.)
📄 [Download ask your boss Script]
📄 [Download one pager for employer]
🔗 [Visit the Employer Overview Page] (TheSpiegelAcademy.com/employers)
Need to Ask your Significant Other for Support?
If your partner is part of your decision‑making process, we’ve made it easier for you to share why this training matters to you and your career. Download this partner support script - it will help you explain your goals, the program benefits, and why investing in this training is worth it for your future.
Required Books (Purchased Separately)
- Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder $45
- DBT Skills Training Manual, Third Edition - $72 (or 2nd edition is fine if you have it)
- DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Third Edition - $48
- Creative DBT Activities Using Music: Interventions for Enhancing Engagement and Effectiveness in Therapy $30
Invest in yourself.
Commit to yourself.
Say yes to yourself, your clients, and your future.
Q- Is there a guarantee?
We want you to feel confident in your decision.
From the day of your first live training session, you have 14 days to decide if this program is the right fit for you.
If you decide within those 14 days that the program isn't the right fit, we'll refund your tuition, less the value of any self-study courses or other training you have already accessed and completed for credit.
After the 14-day period, your tuition may be transferred to other eligible classes in our catalog of equal credit value.
Not Sure if This Is the Right Fit?
Schedule a conversation with our team.
We’ll talk through your setting, your clients, and whether this training is the right next step for you.
Learning Objectives
• Students will be able to describe DBT Skills from each skills module and create interventions for each to implement with client populations they serve in their music therapy practice.
• Students will demonstrate ability to implement DBT skills using music to meet treatment goals with a variety of scenarios across multiple populations
• Students will demonstrate competence by submitting a case study conducted over a 6 month period collecting data to support the outcomes from the application of skills and music interventions addressing treatment goals in each of the 4 modules of DBT Skills training and present in written format.
• Students will participate in real time online classes once weekly for one year to receive instruction, supervision, and peer collaboration opportunities.
CBMT Domain Areas
III.A.6 Theoretical frameworks for music therapy treatment implementation (e.g., educational, developmental, neurological, psychological); III.A.7 Music therapy methods used to support therapeutic outcomes (e.g., improvising, recreating, composing, listening, moving); II.D.2 Individualized treatment planning using evidence-based practices (e.g., professional expertise, research evidence, client preferences): Task Statement 29 Design experiences to facilitate generalization or transferability of skills across clinical/non-clinical contexts when appropriate
II.B-5 Client responses to musical elements and non-musical treatment experiences (e.g., physical, behavioral, social) II.B-6 Needs assessment within multiple domains of health and well-being (e.g., psychosocial, physiological, spiritual, musical) ; III.A-3 Treatment modification within and across sessions based on the client's response and growth (e.g., alternate applications of music, appropriate music selection, adaptation of the physical/virtual session space)
II.B-5 Client responses to musical elements and non-musical treatment experiences (e.g., physical, behavioral, social) II.B-6 Needs assessment within multiple domains of health and well-being (e.g., psychosocial, physiological, spiritual, musical) II.D.2 Individualized treatment planning using evidence-based practices (e.g., professional expertise, research evidence, client preferences): III.B-1 Documentation processes and tools; III.B-2 Methods of clinical observation and data collection to document the client's progress or outcomes; IV.A-1 Data analysis methods and tools used for evaluation; IV.A-2 Interpretation of empirical data (e.g., baseline data comparison, observed progress toward goals, biases; IV.A-6 Evaluation of the treatment plan related to the client's determined goals; IV.A-7 Generalization and transferability of treatment experiences across non-clinical contexts
V.A-1 Resources for continuing education (e.g., lessons, self-study, approved continuing education courses for music therapy); V.A-4 Evidence-based research and current professional practices in music therapy; VA-5 Resources for professional growth (e.g., mentoring, clinical supervision)
DBT Informed Music Therapy Training is a specialty class that is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 100 CMTEs-Continuing Music Therapy Education credits. The Spiegel Academy, CBMT Approved Provider #P-106, maintains responsibility for program quality and adherence to CBMT policies and criteria.
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