DBT CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
VERIFIED 2025/2026.
What is the purpose of validation? - ANS to support or corroborate on a sound or
authoritative basis ...to attest to the truth or validity of something
Level 1 Validation - ANS listening and observing of what the client is saying, feeling, and doing
Level 2 Validation - ANS Accurate reflection back to the client of the client's own feelings,
thoughts, and behaviors; without adding to what was said
Level 3 Validation - ANS emotions and meanings the client has not expressed are verbalized
by the therapist; framed as a question and be willing to be wrong
Level 4 Validation - ANS All behavior is caused by events occurring in time; validating through
their personal history/biology
Level 5 Validation - ANS Normalizing the client's behavior; typical of what anyone would
experience or do
"kernel of truth"- searching for the piece that is valid
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Level 6 Validation - ANS respond to the client as you would anyone else; not seeing them as
fragile
"cheerleading"- validating the inherent ability to overcome difficulties
Borderline Personality Disorder - ANS dysfunction of the emotion regulation system; a result
of biological irregularities combines with the certain dysfunctional environments; transacting
with dysfunctional environments over time
Biosocial Theory - ANS emotion dysregulation is a function of high emotional vulnerability
plus the inability to regulate emotion, and that these difficulties have their roots in biological
predispositions , which are exacerbated by specific environmental experiences; biological
sensitivity transacting overtime with invalidating environments equals chronic Pervasive
Emotional Dysregulation
Dialectical Dilemmas - ANS 1. emotional vulnerability v. self-invalidation (emotional intensity
v. failure to trust own perceptions)
2. active passivity v. apparent competence (tendency to approach problems passively/expecting
others to problems solve v. tendency to appear competent)
3. unrelenting crises v. inhabited grieving (constants state of crisis v. avoiding the experience of
painful emotional reactions)
Primary Dialectical Dilemma - ANS Balance between accepting the client and pushing them
to change
Five DBT Skills Modules - ANS 1. Mindfulness
2. Emotion Regulation
3. Distress Tolerance
4. Interpersonal Effectiveness
5. Middle Path
DBT Assumptions (about patients) - ANS 1. People are doing the best they can
2. People want to improve
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
VERIFIED 2025/2026.
What is the purpose of validation? - ANS to support or corroborate on a sound or
authoritative basis ...to attest to the truth or validity of something
Level 1 Validation - ANS listening and observing of what the client is saying, feeling, and doing
Level 2 Validation - ANS Accurate reflection back to the client of the client's own feelings,
thoughts, and behaviors; without adding to what was said
Level 3 Validation - ANS emotions and meanings the client has not expressed are verbalized
by the therapist; framed as a question and be willing to be wrong
Level 4 Validation - ANS All behavior is caused by events occurring in time; validating through
their personal history/biology
Level 5 Validation - ANS Normalizing the client's behavior; typical of what anyone would
experience or do
"kernel of truth"- searching for the piece that is valid
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Level 6 Validation - ANS respond to the client as you would anyone else; not seeing them as
fragile
"cheerleading"- validating the inherent ability to overcome difficulties
Borderline Personality Disorder - ANS dysfunction of the emotion regulation system; a result
of biological irregularities combines with the certain dysfunctional environments; transacting
with dysfunctional environments over time
Biosocial Theory - ANS emotion dysregulation is a function of high emotional vulnerability
plus the inability to regulate emotion, and that these difficulties have their roots in biological
predispositions , which are exacerbated by specific environmental experiences; biological
sensitivity transacting overtime with invalidating environments equals chronic Pervasive
Emotional Dysregulation
Dialectical Dilemmas - ANS 1. emotional vulnerability v. self-invalidation (emotional intensity
v. failure to trust own perceptions)
2. active passivity v. apparent competence (tendency to approach problems passively/expecting
others to problems solve v. tendency to appear competent)
3. unrelenting crises v. inhabited grieving (constants state of crisis v. avoiding the experience of
painful emotional reactions)
Primary Dialectical Dilemma - ANS Balance between accepting the client and pushing them
to change
Five DBT Skills Modules - ANS 1. Mindfulness
2. Emotion Regulation
3. Distress Tolerance
4. Interpersonal Effectiveness
5. Middle Path
DBT Assumptions (about patients) - ANS 1. People are doing the best they can
2. People want to improve
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
