Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Treating Clients Who Experience Emotional and Behavioral Dysregulation

Course overview

Dialectical Behavior Therapy was developed and first published in 1993 by Marsha M. Linehan, Ph.D. at the University of Washington as a comprehensive, evidence-based outpatient treatment which combines cognitive behavioral theory and eastern mindfulness for adults who meet criteria for borderline personality disorder, who were also at high risk for hospitalization, and life-threatening behaviors and who did not respond to standard treatments that were available. Since then, DBT has been adapted and researched to be successful in treating people with other serious diagnoses such as eating disorders, substance abuse disorders, depression, PTSD, and others. In addition, DBT has been adapted to be effective with other client populations and clinical settings such as children, adolescents, and their families. Because of the success of DBT, programs from all levels of care; outpatient, inpatient, intensive outpatient, forensic and even school settings, have incorporated the model and are using DBT to achieve more effective outcomes with recovery from mental health symptoms and behaviors. This 2-Day training is designed to provide an introduction to theories and research related to DBT, a brief review of the skills that are taught, and core DBT interventions and strategies to teach adaptive coping and achieve client stability. The participant will come away from the training with a beginning understanding of this complex treatment model, specific interventions and strategies that can be utilized immediately in their practice, and where they can get more intensive training.