I've split my reply in 2 parts, partially because I think it makes sense, and partially because it would be a novel otherwise (and also because I have been so slack with housework today and need to break up my little 'rewards' for jobs completed).

I thought I would start my part of sharing this adventure with a little about how I started once my book arrived, and why I am off on this adventure, as maybe it will help anyone reading along but feeling a bit intimidated by this (as I seriously did when the book first arrived).

The book is organised in a way that has two parts - the first being a heap of information about DBT with an emphasis on how and why to conduct DBT skills training. Part 2 of the book are the "teaching notes" for the modules of DBT. The modules are what I feel are 'meaty parts' of the DBT sandwich, though to make the sandwich there are other very important ingredients, like the underlying assumptions of DBT that @Phoenix_Rising has written about. As mentioned in the first post of this adventure, all of the worksheets, handouts and teaching notes are online and easily available for download, making pretty much the whole second part of the book available, which means it might not be too hard for anyone to join along in this adventure if they'd like. I think it would be really cool to for others to join in too, but like you are phoenix_rising, I am happy playing along on my own as well.

I got a bit (a lot) tripped up when my book first arrived because of the sheer volume of it, especially when combined with the additional resources that accompany the book. It took me a while to work out exactly how to approach all of the material. I began by working my way through the reading of part 1, then planned on working through a list of certain skills in a particular order, but I am now working my way through part two in the order it is in the book. This is likely to change soon as I really want to get to a certain part of the skills but for the moment, it is where I am at. I have also decided to use a lever arch folder to store all of the handouts and worksheets (which I am printing off module at a time), a smaller easier to carry folder with the worksheets I have selected to use myself, and a note book that I am taking and keeping lots of notes and reflections in.

As for my rationale for setting off on this adventure, I've realised (a lot due to spending time in forumland), that many of the strategies and coping skills I use are/are similar to/are based on DBT skills. This is perhaps a combination of years of working with a CBT psychologist with an interest in DBT, the study I have done and the people I have been around. I want to understand the skills more and refine them, so I can more effectively use them. I really hope to gain a better awareness of what skills may be helpful in what contexts, as I feel it is one thing for me to have a big box of skills, and another for me to understand what may work best and when. I am also keeping a copy of all of my material as I think this could also be a really valuable resource for my working life one day as well, especially if I have practiced and lived the skills myself.

Now that part is done, I will add my thoughts about the introduction a bit later (as a reward for doing the rest of the housework I don't want to do).

Oh also - here's a link to a sample chapter, which happens to be the introduction chapter if anyone wants it

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.guilford.com/excerpts/linehan7.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwjj6JqytsTWAhXLxLwKHW0aD2AQFgglMAA&usg=AFQjCNGYq6Fpy3VGvpO0uOjf12yIN4KBUA

🙂