DBT for Military and First Responders
DBT Path, the original online DBT skills class since 2013, now offers a streamlined scholarship for active-duty military, National Guard and Reserve members, veterans and former service members, and first responders. If you serve or have served, you already know what it means to keep showing up on a demanding schedule. This page explains who qualifies, how the class fits around shift work and deployments, and how to apply.
Who this is for
DBT Path’s military and first responder scholarship track is open to:
- Active-duty service members, in any branch
- National Guard and Reserve members, whether currently drilling or activated
- Veterans and former service members, at any point since separation
- First responders, including police, fire, EMS, dispatch, and corrections professionals
If you are unsure whether your role qualifies, apply anyway and our team will let you know.
Why DBT skills fit this kind of work
Service and first responder work asks a lot of the nervous system: high stakes, long shifts, hard calls, and stretches of time away from family. DBT Path teaches concrete, practiced skills for handling intense stress reactions, steadying sleep and mood around irregular shifts, working through difficult emotions after a hard deployment or call, and reconnecting with family and civilian life, alongside transition resources like Military OneSource. These are the same evidence-based DBT skills taught in clinical settings, broken into four modules: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness.
A class built around a demanding schedule
DBT Path is a live, online, lecture-style class, about one hour a week, with about one more hour of self-paced homework. A few things make it realistic to keep up with on a rotating shift or an unpredictable deployment schedule:
- Every class is recorded, so a missed session because of duty, a call, or a shift is easy to catch up on
- You can join a class already in progress and catch up on past recordings, no waitlist
- Camera is optional and there is no pressure to speak
- Homework is done privately, with personalized written feedback each week from a trained DBT Path team member
- Same two instructors every week: founder Debbie DeMarco Bennett, a mental health educator, and co-teacher Dr. Kathryn Holt, PhD, LCSW. No rotating coaches
Privacy is built in
DBT Path’s format was built with privacy in mind from the start, which matters in fields where reaching out for support can feel complicated. Classes are lecture-style, not group therapy. You are never asked to disclose what you are going through in front of the group. You learn the skill, then practice it privately in your own homework, on your own terms.
How the DBT for military and first responders scholarship works
DBT Path’s standard scholarship application asks for proof of income and housing costs. For active-duty military, National Guard and Reserve members, veterans and former service members, and first responders, that requirement is reduced to two forms of proof, no income or lease documentation needed. Approved applicants pay $150 a month for as long as they stay continuously enrolled through their 9-month program.
To apply, visit our scholarship information page and use the military or first responder application path.
What DBT for military and first responders is, and is not
DBT Path is an educational DBT skills class, not therapy, crisis care, or a treatment program, and it is not a VA or TRICARE benefit. It works well alongside a service member’s or veteran’s existing care team, but it is not a substitute for one. If you are a veteran or service member in crisis, or at risk of harming yourself, please contact the Veterans Crisis Line right away by dialing 988 and pressing 1, texting 838255, or chatting online at veteranscrisisline.net. If you are a first responder in crisis, dial 988 or contact your department’s peer support or EAP resources.
Frequently asked questions
I’m in the National Guard or Reserves, not active duty. Do I qualify?
Yes. DBT Path’s military and first responder scholarship track includes National Guard and Reserve members, whether you are currently drilling or activated, alongside active-duty service members, veterans, and first responders.
Is this a VA or TRICARE benefit, or is it covered by insurance?
No. DBT Path is a private, independent educational program, not a VA program or an insurance-billed service. The military and first responder scholarship simply reduces tuition to $150 a month for those who qualify and provide the required documentation.
What counts as a first responder for the scholarship?
Police officers, firefighters, EMS and paramedics, 911 dispatchers, and corrections professionals all qualify under DBT Path’s first responder scholarship track.
How is the application different from the standard scholarship?
The standard DBT Path scholarship application asks for a completed form, proof of income, and proof of housing costs. Military, veteran, and first responder applicants provide two forms of proof instead, with no income or lease documentation required.
Apply for the DBT Path military and first responder scholarship
If you serve or have served, DBT Path wants to make sure cost and a demanding schedule are never the reason you go without support. Apply for the scholarship here, or learn more about DBT Path’s online DBT classes. Questions first? Our FAQ page has answers.