Book Review: The DBT Skills Workbook for CPTSD by Sheri Van Dijk

Hi! I'm Karoline, and I'd like to invite you to join me as I read The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for CPTSD by Sheri Van Dijk, complete the exercises it contains, and post videos about my experience. You can purchase the book here: https://amzn.to/3YZ8g7g (paid link*) to join me on this exciting adventure.

If you don't know if CPTSD (Complex or Chronic PTSD) applies to you or if DBT is right for you, keep scrolling to read the review below for more information to help you decide.

Video Links

Introduction and Chapter 1: https://youtu.be/uUncg-W8TDM

Introduction and CPTSD Symptoms List

My personal experience of suffering from CPTSD is why I have taken up this challenge. CPTSD for me stems from growing up with a mother who struggles with bipolar disorder and alcoholism. That childhood trauma was further compounded by constant instability—my family moved frequently, and during elementary school I attended an average of three schools per year. While that pace thankfully slowed as I got older, the damage from repeated disruption had already been done. I was also a victim of m*lestation in my early years. When you look at these experiences together, it becomes painfully clear where the “complex” in CPTSD comes from—chronic, repeated, and layered trauma over time.

I am currently working toward a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, which is where my interest in DBT therapy really took root. What draws me to DBT—especially for trauma recovery—is that, unlike many therapeutic modalities, its primary focus is on reducing symptoms by teaching concrete coping skills and nervous system regulation. Even though I’ve worked with multiple therapists over the years, it took a very long time for someone to help me recognize just how dysregulated my nervous system truly is. While I’ve made meaningful progress, I am still struggling—often intensely. That struggle is what led me to search for a DBT workbook, and when I found one specifically designed for CPTSD, I knew I had to try it.

My hope is that this book will help me develop the understanding, emotional regulation skills, and trauma-informed tools I need to move beyond the symptoms that have shaped my life for as long as I can remember, including:

Hyperarousal: hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, irritability, sleep disturbances
Intrusive memories: flashbacks, nightmares, distressing thoughts
Avoidance behaviors: avoiding people, places, or activities tied to trauma
Negative mood and cognition: distorted self-beliefs, shame, blame, loss of interest
Emotion regulation difficulties: intense anger, persistent sadness, emotional overwhelm, numbness, suicidal thoughts, extreme mood swings
Impaired sense of self: feelings of worthlessness, guilt, helplessness, being “damaged,” or fundamentally different
Relationship challenges: difficulty trusting, fear of abandonment or intimacy, unhealthy relational patterns
Dissociation: depersonalization or derealization—feeling disconnected from self or reality

If you recognize yourself in any of these CPTSD symptoms, I invite you to explore the video links above or find me on YouTube @absolutelypositivelyme1970, where I document my experience working through this DBT workbook in real time. I truly believe there is strength, healing, and hope in shared experience. You don’t have to navigate Complex PTSD alone.

Please join me—and let’s work through CPTSD together.

The DBT Skills Workbook for CPTSD with Link to Amazon

Review

As mentioned above, my name is Karoline Angeles, and I am intentionally and thoughtfully working my way through The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for CPTSD by Sheri Van Dijk, MSW (link above). My goal with this review is to provide a detailed analysis of the book and share my experience of applying the principles and skills taught within it.

This is an honest, in-progress DBT workbook review, where I share both the pros and cons of the book as I actively work through it. I will continue updating this post as I move forward. You’ll also find links above to the YouTube videos I’ve created so far that discuss this book in much greater depth. In those videos, I talk openly about the content, the DBT skills being taught, and how I’m applying them in real time to my own life. They go far beyond what I can cover in a written review.

At first glance, I was drawn to this book not only because of its topic, but also because it is very well organized and easy to read. Unfamiliar terms are explained in language that is accessible and not overly technical. It is written in a workbook style, with clear explanations and relatable examples followed by exercises that help the reader explore and apply the information. The author also takes time to acknowledge that the work may be triggering and gently encourages self-care, pacing, and working with a mental health professional if needed.

The first chapter lays an important foundation by defining PTSD and CPTSD, explaining the differences between them, and outlining the symptoms of each. Risk factors that can make a person more susceptible to developing PTSD or CPTSD are clearly presented, and the reader is guided through identifying these risk factors in their own life. The three stages of trauma treatment are also introduced and explained, along with how those stages are addressed throughout the book.

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