Dialectical Behavior Coaching to Prevent Activist Burnout

When political aggression toward immigrants, trans people, and disabled people in the US intensified in January 2025, we struggled with how to help. We called our representatives, donated to progressive efforts, and attended rallies. Those actions were meaningful and rewarding, and we began thinking about how to leverage our clinical training to increase our impact. We determined that adopting a support role for frontline activists was our best option. To maximize our effectiveness, we explored the fit between DBT skills and activist burnout. In this paper, we share our insights and actions.