About
How leaders level up
Adapted from decades of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy expertise, we help leaders and teams develop the skills to stay focused, navigate pressure and perform when it matters most.
At our heart is a dialectical approach: balancing acceptance and change so people can make more effective choices in critical moments.
We offer a range of training workshops designed to suit your company, from bespoke, online, in-person or open enrolment sessions.
Because better performance is not built in one big leap. It's built moment by moment, level by level.
What is DBT?
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidence‑based psychological therapy designed to help people manage intense emotions, build coping skills, and create a more stable, fulfilling life.
At its core, DBT combines two ideas that can feel opposite: accepting yourself as you are and working toward meaningful change. Both can be true at the same time - that’s the “dialectical” part.
Core skills we teach in training sessions
01
Mindfulness
Focus when it matters most
Awareness is the starting point for change. Mindfulness helps people recognise habits and patterns in the moment, creating the foundation for stronger decisions and more effective leadership.
02
Emotion Regulation
Making space for clarity
Better decisions come from understanding what drives emotional responses. Emotion Regulation helps people manage those responses and maintain clarity when pressure builds.
03
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Turning tension into trust
Difficult conversations are part of leadership. Interpersonal Effectiveness develops the skills to communicate clearly, build trust and navigate challenging situations with confidence.
04
Stress Tolerance
Perform when the pressure rises
Stressful situations are inevitable. The response to them is not. Stress Tolerance helps people stay effective when emotions run high, pressure increases and outcomes matter most.
The team
Dr Christine Dunkley
Director of Applied Research and Technology
Christine Dunkley is a leading DBT clinician, trainer, and author with over two decades of experience. A senior accredited BACP practitioner and Vice President of the Society for DBT, she has trained clinicians across the UK, Ireland, Europe, and beyond, and is recognised as one of the world’s most experienced DBT intensive trainers.
Professor Michaela Swales
Training Lead
Michaela Swales is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Director of the North Wales Clinical Psychology Programme at Bangor University. A leading DBT trainer in the UK, she completed her intensive training in Seattle in 1995 and has since trained and consulted with teams nationally and internationally.
Dr Pauline McAvoy
Trainer
Dr Pauline McAvoy is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist and accredited DBT therapist with over 20 years’ experience delivering evidence‑based behavioural programmes. She is currently a DBT Therapist and Clinical Lead for DBT at Bradford District Care Foundation Trust.
Created by world-leading DBT practitioners
Head Level has been developed by the expert team at British Isles DBT Training, led by Professor Michaela Swales and Dr Christine Dunkley.