DBT Skills Training: The Essentials

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
8:30 – 9:00 Registration and CE/CME Sign-In
9:00 – 10:30 DBT Skills in Context
10:30 – 10:45 Break
10:45 – 12:30 DBT as Dialectics & DBT Skills Delivery
12:30 – 1:45 Lunch on your own
1:45 – 3:15 The Middle Path: Dialectics, Validation, and Changing Behavior
3:15 – 3:30 Break
3:30 – 4:45 DBT Core Mindfulness Skills
4:45 – 5:00 Homework Assignment, Q & A, Completion of Evaluation, and CE/CME Sign-Out

Day 2
8:30 – 9:00 CE/CME Sign-In
9:00 – 10:30 Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills
10:30 – 10:45 Break
10:45 – 12:30 Emotion Regulation Skills
12:30 – 1:45 Lunch on your own
1:45 – 3:15 Distress Tolerance Skills
3:15 – 3:30 Break
3:30 – 4:45 Teaching & Coaching DBT Skills
4:45 – 5:00 Q & A, Completion of Evaluation, and CE/CME Sign-Out

Trainers

Study Resources

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

• Linehan, M.M. (2015). DBT Skills Training Manual: Second Edition. New York: Guilford Press.
• Linehan, M.M. (2015). DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets: Second Edition. New York: Guilford Press.

Attend

Tuition
Register by July 31 for an Early Bird Discount! – $315
After July 31 – $395

Behavioral Tech, LLC is not responsible for any presenter’s or participant’s statements, acts, materials or omissions. The use of audio or video taping devices is not permitted at any training. We reserve the right to cancel the training or to change the speakers and content at our sole discretion.

Cancellation, Substitutions, and Refunds

Registration fees, minus a $50 service charge, will be refunded to participants who send a written cancellation via mail to Behavioral Tech or via email to info@behavioraltech.org postmarked no less than 15 days before the training. No refunds will be made thereafter. A colleague may be substituted for no extra charge if Behavioral Tech, LLC is notified at least two business days before the training. For a complete list of Behavioral Tech policies, including how to address grievances, see policies.

Seat Availability for Onsite Events

The number of seats for our open-enrollment workshops and our application-based trainings is limited by the physical training space that is reserved for the event. Please complete your registration or submit your application at your earliest convenience, as we will not guarantee a seat for you until we have received your registration or tuition payment.

Special Accommodations

If you require special accommodations due to a disability, please contact Behavioral Tech at 206.675.8588 four weeks prior to the training so that we may provide you with appropriate service.

Technical Requirements

Co-Sponsored by Nova Southeastern University.

Carl DeSantis Building (H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business & Entrepreneurship)
Room 1124
3301 College Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314
Click here to download directions.

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 Nova Southeastern University (NSU).  If you have any questions, please contact NSU at 800.541.6682 x25826 or email osulliva@nova.edu.

CE NOTE: NSU calculates the continuing education credits for this training by the start time and end time. 100 percent attendance is required, as is signing IN and OUT each morning and afternoon, to receive CE credits. Partial credits cannot be issued.

Psychologists
Nova Southeastern University’s College of Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Nova Southeastern University’s College of Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The hours of CE allocated for this activity = 12.5.

Clinical Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, and Marriage and Family Therapists
Nova Southeastern University’s College of Psychology is approved to offer continuing education by the State of Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. Provider # BAP 330 – exp. 03/31/2021.

Nova Southeastern University’s College of Psychology has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 4548. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Nova Southeastern University’s College of Psychology is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. The hours of CE allocated for this activity = 12.5.

School Psychologists
Nova Southeastern University’s College of Psychology is approved to offer continuing education by the State of Florida Board of Medical Therapies/Psychology, Office of School Psychology. Provider # SCE 11 – exp. 11/30/2019.

Nova Southeastern University’s College of Psychology is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to offer professional development for school psychologists. Nova Southeastern University maintains responsibility for the program. Provider # 1024. The hours of CE allocated for this activity = 12.5.