Catherine Esperanza

Portland DBT Institute

Catherine by the numbers: 4 countries I’ve lived in 5 cats who rule over me and, by the time you read this, another cat will likely have decided to move in 53 books read last year 1,720 books and counting

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Emily Teegarden

Emily by the numbers: 2 cats 5 legs between them 7 times she’s seen Guns N’ Roses in concert 5 times she’s re-watched The Sopranos Emily received her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northern Kentucky University in

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Emelie Santarlasci

Emelie by the numbers: 5 states lived in 201 books read in one year 1 visit to the Blarney Stone Infinite attempts to keep my house plants alive Emelie Santarlasci received her master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy with an

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Amanda Bennett

Amanda by the numbers: 11 tattoos inspired by loved ones 3 little humans share my home 1 Romanichal dialect spoken 8 is my lucky number 2 fur babies Amanda has been involved with social work and providing mental health services

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Sarah Howeth

Sarah by the numbers: 1 book-club-that-doesn’t-read-books member 7 days-a-week she enjoys waking up before the sun 2 sweet, long-haired dogs Countless times she has used a lint roller Sarah (she/her) is Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She received her graduate

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Aubrey Shaw Hetland

Aubrey by the numbers: 5 Bikes Owned 20 Years Practicing Yoga 1 Sweet and Loving Rescue Dog 12 Shoe Size Aubrey Shaw Hetland, CSWA/MSW is a Clinical Social Work Associate through the State of Oregon’s Board of Licensed Social Workers.

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Kristen Schuch

Kristen by the numbers: 14 National Parks visited 3 cats who share her home 42 Sweaters in her closet 2 Star Trek collages created Kristen Schuch got her master’s in clinical psychology from Eastern Illinois University in 2002. She moved

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Rachel Mackintosh

Rachel by the numbers: 3 cats (all tuxedos- 2 with tails, 1 without) 2 living houseplants, undisclosed number of deceased houseplants 100+ bottles of nail polish owned 3 major food passions- chocolate, cheese, chile peppers Rachel joined the Path to

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Kim Van Beek

Kim by the numbers: 1 great cookie recipe 2 left feet, still learning to dance 3 siblings and 3 grandcats 4 softball teams 5 feet, 2 inches Countless comedy shows attended Kim has always enjoyed listening to people tell their

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Nicole Cherek

Nicole by the numbers: 4 sports played in high school (volleyball, basketball, track, softball) 1 sport played in college (softball) 11 years old when she decided to become a therapist 32 times watched David Byrne’s American Utopia 75+ Grateful Dead

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DBT Training Calendar

Diving into DBT Skills
July 16-17, 2026
Claudia Avina, PhD


(Free CE Hour) Understanding and Addressing Shame with LGBTQ+ Clients
August 12, 2026
Kiki Fehling, PhD, DBT-LBC


DBT in a Nutshell: Treating Multi-Diagnostic, Complex Individuals
August 20-21, 2026
Jason Fritts, LCSW, DBT-LBC


(Free CE Hour) AI & Mental Health: Ethical and Practical Considerations
September 9, 2026
Faria Kamal, PhD
Clerissa Cooper, MS, LPC, SEP, CPCS


DBT in a Nutshell for Adolescents and Caregivers 
September 17-18, 2026
Ashley Maliken, PhD, DBT-LBC


Ethics, Boundaries of Competence, Avoiding Harm, and Risk Management: Working Well with the Suicidal Patient
September 25, 2026
Andrew White, PhD, ABPP, DBT-LBC


(EXCLUSIVE) Your Parent Compass: DBT and Parent Management Training for Parents who Support Struggling Youth
October 2 & 9, 2026
Nancy Cohen, PhD
Tracy Kalloway, MA, LPC


DBT Comprehensive Implementation & Training Intensive Part I
October 5-7 & 13-14, 2026
Andrew White, PhD, ABPP, DBT-LBC
Leah Smart Gordon, LCSW, DBT-LBC


(Free CE Hour) Treating Couples with Borderline Personality Disorder: Lessons Learned from the Sage Studies
October 14, 2026
Skye Fitzpatrick, PhD


Maximizing Individual Therapy in DBT: Moving Beyond Life Threatening Behavior
October 22-23, 2026
Dorian Hunter, PhD, DBT-LBC


(EXCLUSIVE) Terminating Effectively in DBT: Treatment Contracts, Ethical Considerations, and Lots of Stuff In Between
November 6, 2026
Christopher Conley, MSW, DSW, RSW


(EXCLUSIVE) Dialectics can be Challenging and Freeing: Tools for Teaching and applying Dialectics
December 4, 2026
Andrea Gold, PhD
Jesse Finkelstein, PsyD


AI & Mental Health: Ethical and Practical Considerations
January 22, 2026
Faria Kamal, PhD
Clerissa Cooper, MS, LPC, SEP, CPCS


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