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DBT Skills Training: The Essentials

Hosted by

Behavioral Tech Institute - The World's Foremost Linehan-trained DBT Professionals

Please note: This is a training series for staff and guests of CHI Nebraska.

If you are not a part of this group, please visit us at https://behavioraltech.org/events/ to see a list of upcoming events available to the general public.

Training Description

This introductory two-day workshop covers the fundamentals of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills: Core Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. Participants learn the goals of each skills module, and the targets for DBT skills training. They are also taught how to apply fundamental DBT strategies in skills training and coaching, so as to maintain dialectical balance in the endeavor. Clinical examples are used to illustrate specific skills training procedures. This course incorporates video of roundtable discussions of DBT experts, and demonstrations of a skills training class.

This course is designed for all mental health professionals who want to learn DBT skills to improve their work with their clients. Prior knowledge of DBT is not required; however, learning will be enhanced if participants are familiar with Dr. Marsha Linehan’s DBT® Skills Training Manual, Second Edition, and should attend the training with this book.

Research indicates that DBT skills are a key mechanism of change for suicide attempts, non-suicidal self-injury, depression, and anger (Neacsiu et al., 2010), and multiple randomized control trials have shown DBT skills to be effective for a variety of problems, including depression, emotion dysregulation, binge eating, and borderline personality disorder.

DBT skills are one of 4 modes of standard outpatient DBT. While attendance at this workshop is expected to enhance clinical work, the workshop will not result in participants knowing how to conduct DBT.

Primary Objective:

As a result of this training participants will be able to do DBT skills training.

Learning Objectives:

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe how DBT skills fit in the larger context of DBT.
  2. Describe the function of skills training.
  3. Describe the dialectical nature of DBT skills training.
  4. Identify the targets for DBT skills training.
  5. Identify the goals of DBT Mindfulness skills.
  6. Describe how Core Mindfulness skills are key (core) to all skills taught in DBT.
  7. Identify the goals of DBT Distress Tolerance skills.
  8. Identify the goals of DBT Emotion Regulation skills.
  9. Describe the functions of emotions.
  10. Identify the goals of DBT Interpersonal Effectiveness skills.
  11. Identify the strategies and procedures required for effective teaching of DBT skills training.
  12. Explain the progression from skills acquisition and strengthening to generalization.

Schedule

Day 1
8:00 – 8:30 Registration and CE/CME Sign-In
8:30 – 10:00 DBT Skills in Context
10:00 – 10:15 Break
10:15 – 12:00 DBT as Dialectics & DBT Skills Delivery
12:00 – 1:15 Lunch on your own
1:15 – 2:45 The Middle Path: Dialectics, Validation, and Changing Behavior
2:45 – 3:00 Break
3:00 – 4:15 DBT Core Mindfulness Skills
4:15 – 4:30 Homework Assignment, Q & A, Completion of Evaluation, and CE/CME Sign-Out

Day 2
8:00 – 8:30 CE/CME Sign-In
8:30 – 10:00 Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills
10:00 – 10:15 Break
10:15 – 12:00 Emotion Regulation Skills
12:00 – 1:15 Lunch on your own
1:15 – 2:45 Distress Tolerance Skills
2:45 – 3:00 Break
3:00 – 4:15 Teaching & Coaching DBT Skills
4:15 – 4:30 Q & A, Completion of Evaluation, and CE/CME Sign-Out

Trainers

Ronda Oswalt Reitz, PhD

Ronda Oswalt Reitz, PhD Ronda Oswalt Reitz, PhDColumbia, MO (United States) Ronda Oswalt Reitz, Ph.D., is the Coordinator for Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) services for the Missouri Department of Mental Health. In this role, she is charged with the implementation, support, and evaluation of DBT programming in public mental health settings statewide.  Dr. Reitz specializes in large-scale implementation of DBT and has developed comprehensive DBT programming in community mental health systems, inpatient hospitals, and in juvenile and adult forensic settings.  Dr. Reitz is also a national trainer-consultant for Behavioral Tech, the treatment dissemination company founded by Dr. Marsha Linehan, the developer of DBT.  Dr. Reitz is a graduate of the University of Kansas.

Tony DuBose, PsyD

Tony DuBose, PsyD Tony DuBose, PsyDAnthony P. DuBose, PsyD, serves as the Vice President of Institute Services and Director of Continuing Education/Continuing Medical Education (CE/CME) at Behavioral Tech Institute. His career has been shaped by a longstanding commitment to expanding access to effective care for individuals at high risk for suicide and self injury. Dr. DuBose first encountered Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) while working with hospitalized adolescents, and the transformative outcomes he witnessed set the course for his professional life. For more than a decade, Dr. DuBose has led Behavioral Tech’s global training and implementation efforts, working in close collaboration with professional associations, government agencies, and large healthcare systems to strengthen their capacity to deliver high quality, sustainable DBT services. In this role, he has guided teams of internationally recognized experts and partnered with leaders across multiple countries and U.S. states to design and implement large scale DBT training models. He plays a key role in the development of DBT training models, many of which have been translated into multiple languages and integrated into diverse cultural and organizational contexts. Dr. DuBose is known for his collaborative and strategic approach to implementation of DBT in systems, both large and small. He works closely with policymakers, administrators, clinical leaders, and key stakeholders to help them build programs that are both evidence based and responsive to local needs. His work reflects a deep respect for the communities he serves and a belief that effective implementation requires humility, partnership, and a shared commitment to improving care for people in crisis. He has trained and consulted with providers worldwide on the treatment of borderline personality disorder, substance use disorders, and suicidal and self injurious behaviors in both adolescents and adults. He has played a central role in several national and regional DBT implementation initiatives and continues to support organizations seeking to expand access to evidence based care. Dr. DuBose is a member of the International Dissemination and Training & Implementation Committees of the World Association for Dialectical Behavior Therapy (WDBTA) and previously served on its transitional Board of Directors as Treasurer. He is licensed as a psychologist in Washington State and is certified by the DBT Linehan Board of Certification (DBT LBC). He earned his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Pacific University of Oregon, completed his predoctoral internship at Western State Hospital, and fulfilled his residency requirements as a postdoctoral fellow in clinical child psychology at the University of Washington. Prior to becoming a psychologist, he earned a Master of Science in counseling from Loyola University of New Orleans and worked as a family therapist. His early work with adolescents at the Child Study and Treatment Center—where he served as director of the older adolescent program—solidified his dedication to serving individuals at highest risk. Dr. DuBose is a Founding Member and former President & CEO of the Evidence Based Treatment Centers of Seattle, PLLC. He held clinical faculty appointments in the University of Washington’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Psychology from 1998 to 2012 and collaborated with Marsha Linehan, PhD, ABPP, and colleagues on research focused on DBT, particularly its dissemination and implementation. He also served on the strategic planning group that established the WDBTA. He lives in Seattle, Washington in the United States.

Study Resources

Behavioral Tech products can be ordered online with registration. Please click on the links below to learn more about each resource.

Technical Requirements

Locations vary by date:

August 15-16:
Educational Service Unit #3, Cass/Douglas Conference Room, 6949 S 110th Street, La Vista NE 68128 (click here for an interactive map)

August 29-30:
McAuley Center, Right Track Conference Room, 12809 W Dodge Road, Omaha, NE 68154 (click here for an interactive map)

September 12-13:
McAuley Center, Right Track Conference Room, 12809 W Dodge Road, Omaha, NE 68154 (click here for an interactive map)

Continuing Education

This offering meets the requirements for the following hours by discipline. Licensing and continuing education requirements vary by state. Please contact your state’s regulatory authority to verify if this course meets your licensing or continuing education requirements. Inquiries regarding CE for other disciplines not listed may be directed to Behavioral Tech at 206.675.8588 or via email to support@behavioraltech.org.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors
Behavioral Tech is approved the NAADAC – the Association for Addiction Professionals, Provider #77431. You will receive a letter via email documenting your attendance upon successful completion of the activity. The allotted contact hours for this activity = 12.5.

Mental Health Counselors
Behavioral Tech is approved a NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP™), ACEP No. 5885. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Behavioral Tech, LLC, is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. Behavioral Tech will email you a letter documenting your attendance upon successful completion of the activity. The allocated clock hours for this activity = 12.5.

Nurses
Behavioral Tech is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Continuing Medical Education is accepted by the ANCC for nursing certification renewal. The maximum AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ designated by Behavioral Tech for this activity = 12.5.
At the end of the training, each Nurse must complete and sign the provided form to record the number of credits claimed. Keep one copy & return the other copy to Behavioral Tech.

Psychiatrists
Behavioral Tech is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The maximum AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ designated by Behavioral Tech for this activity = 12.5.
At the end of the training, each Physician must complete and sign the provided form to record the number of credits claimed. Keep one copy & return the other copy to Behavioral Tech.

Psychologists
Behavioral Tech is approved the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Behavioral Tech maintains responsibility for the program and its content. Behavioral Tech will email you a letter documenting your attendance after successful completion of the program and homework. The number of hours Behavioral Tech has allocated within APA guidelines = 12.5.

Social Workers & Marriages and Family Therapists
The Nebraska Board of Mental Health Practice accepts CE activities sponsored by national or regional mental health practice associations directly related to enhancing mental health practice (such as American Psychological Association (APA), National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), etc.). The number of hours allotted for this activity = 12.5.

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