Launching a DBT Skills Group

 

Next Dates TBA

---

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a highly efficacious treatment developed by Marsha M. Linehan, PhD for multi-diagnostic, severely disordered individuals with pervasive emotion dysregulation. While originally developed for difficult-to-treat patients with borderline personality disorder, research has demonstrated that DBT is also effective for patients with a variety of complex problems, including eating disorders and substance abuse, where emotion dyscontrol are often at the core of the patient’s problems and/or interfere with long-term maintenance of therapeutic progress.

Of the 4 modes of comprehensive DBT, skills training has been shown to be particularly important, and current research suggests that skills training group as a stand-alone intervention can be helpful for many individuals. However, delivering this mode of treatment ethically requires mindfulness to key principles underlying comprehensive DBT, especially with high-risk clients. This training is designed to clarify these key principles and potential pitfalls in implementing a DBT skills group, and provide hands-on practice of the essential skills needed for an effective skills trainer.

Topics covered will include:

• Overview of the 4 skills modules and their functions
• The principle of dialectics and its importance in skills training
• Who may benefit from skills training group vs. individual skills training vs. ad hoc skills training; contraindications for ad hoc skills training
• Therapy-interfering behaviors and commitment strategies in skills training groups
• Structure of skills training and different schedules based on needs of clients
• Skills for teaching emotionally vulnerable clients effectively

LEARNINING OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the 4 skills modules and their functions
2. Describe the principle of dialectics and its importance in skills training
3. Differentiate who may benefit from skills training group vs. individual skills training vs. ad hoc skills training and identify contraindications for ad hoc skills training
4. Describe the 3 targets of skills training in their hierarchy and the rationale
5. Describe the structure of skills training group sessions and cycles
6. Describe and apply skills for teaching emotionally vulnerable clients effectively, including leading mindfulness practice, reviewing homework, teaching, and wind-down strategies
7. Describe common therapy-interfering behaviors and how to use behavioral principles to address them

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Individuals who are already applying DBT Individual Therapy in their practice, are interested in starting a DBT Skills group, and/or who directly supervise other clinicians who provide DBT. This is not an introductory training.

REQUIREMENTS AND PREREQUISITES:

We strongly recommend that attendees are current members of a DBT team, and have received no less than 20 hours of DBT training. This is not an introductory training and will not cover the foundations of DBT or the DBT skills.

CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS:

Participants who complete the entire training will earn 12 CE hours. This training is not eligible for partial credits.
Portland DBT Institute has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6326. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Portland DBT Institute is solely is responsible for all aspects of the programs.

PRICING:

Individual Registration Fee $349.00

Group Registration Fee for 3 or more $325.00 /person

Students are eligible for 15% off individual registration fee*

*email training@pdbti.org for student discount code

Register Now

---

Private Training Requests

Portland DBT Institute training is available to schedule as a private training for your group. PDBTI’s training team travels locally, nationally, and internationally, to provide evidence based, adherent DBT training. Please fill out our Training Request Form and a training coordinator will contact you to see how we can work together to exceed your organization’s training goals.

Private Training Request

---

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS

A $60.00 handling fee will be deducted upon cancellation. Refund requests by fax or email must be received two weeks before the start date. In addition, the fees are non-transferrable.

PDBTI reserves the right to cancel any program due to under-enrollment, or any course due to work stoppages, instructor illness or inclement weather. If a course is cancelled, PDBTI is responsible for refunding only the course fee.