Stressed Music Therapist?

5 Days to Calm

Reduce overwhelm and strengthen how you show up for your clients with this FREE 5 day mini course designed specifically for music therapists!

Optional 1 CMTE credit available for a standard $25 processing fee.

You care deeply about your clients.

But feeling stretched before sessions,

...navigating emotional intensity in the room,

and thinking about clients long after the day ends takes a toll.

This 5-day reset offers one brief, practical DBT skill each day

... to help you steady your nervous system and strengthen your clinical presence.

  • Short.

  • Structured.

  • Designed for real schedules.

5 Days to Calm

DBT Skills for the Stressed Music Therapist

FREE Mini Course + Guided Workbook

Optional 1 CMTE Credit

The course is free to access.
CMTE credit is optional for a $25 processing fee.

The Spiegel Academy provides board-certified music therapists with 40+ online CMTE courses across a wide range of clinical topics, supporting both professional growth and CBMT recertification.

Course Description

This short mini course, 5 Days to Calm: DBT Skills for the Stressed Music Therapist, introduces five practical DBT-based skills designed to help music therapists regulate stress, manage emotional intensity in clinical work, and reduce emotional carryover after sessions.

Participants will explore simple strategies that support steadiness in challenging moments and strengthen intentional responses during clinical interactions.

The course is delivered as a guided workbook with structured reading, reflection, and practical exercises.

Learning Objectives and CBMT Domain Areas

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

  • Identify at least two DBT skills that support emotional regulation in clinical settings. III.A6

  • Demonstrate one strategy for reducing emotional carryover after sessions. V.B8

  • Demonstrate a DBT skill for managing personal stress V.A2

Estimated Learning Time

Approximately 50 minutes

5 Days to Calm: DBT Skills for the Stressed Music Therapist is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 1 CMTEs-Continuing Music Therapy Education credit. The Spiegel Academy, CBMT Approved Provider #P-106,  maintains responsibility for program quality and adherence to CBMT policies and criteria.  

Created By Deborah Spiegel MT-BC


DBT is an evidence-based therapy model that teaches clear, actionable skills for navigating life’s challenges, making wise decisions, and improving emotional and interpersonal effectiveness.

Deborah Spiegel MT-BC is known as the DBT informed Music Therapy expert. She first started using DBT in her music therapy in 2001.


She is author of two books: Creative DBT Activities Using Music: Interventions for Enhancing Engagement and Effectiveness in Therapy (Jessica Kingsley 2020.) and Creative DBT Activities for Children Using Music (Jessica Kingsley 2025.).

Deborah’s passion for integrating DBT with music therapy led her to spearhead a research project to validate the effectiveness of using DBT with music therapy, published in the Journal of Music Therapy in June of 2022. Plus it led her to present workshops nationwide since 2011, and eventually online.

She is CEO and director of The Spiegel Academy, providing online continuing education for music therapists and allied professionals. This includes specializing in providing a comprehensive DBT informed music therapy training program in conjunction with her team.

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