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Level 3
Live, Remote, Instructor-led
Part 1: August 23-27, 2021
Part 2: January 10-14, 2022
Trainers: Gwen Abney-Cunningham and Donna Pattie
Training Description
Since its initial development in the 1980s DBT has been shown to be effective for an array of problems related to emotion dysregulation. We know severe emotion regulation difficulties result in persons facing multiple problems across many areas of life and that these problems manifest in a variety of ways. The principles of DBT were specifically designed for cases which often present therapists with novel challenges. One of the benefits of a principle-based treatment is that it can be versatile enough to accommodate the specific situations, cultures, and contexts of the persons it serves. DBT has been studied and implemented in multiple countries across the globe.
DBT Intensive training is a comprehensive team-based program of study designed to provide teams with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide DBT. It focuses on both the establishment of comprehensive DBT programs and the clinical skills necessary to provide the treatment to persons with complex mental health problems. Intensive training in DBT includes 4 hours of content specific to risk assessment, management, and treatment of suicidal behaviors.
The program is divided into 2 parts that are designed to guide teams to accomplish four phases of DBT program implementation. While Parts 1 and 2 are described separately, they comprise a single program of study.
Part 1 (30 instructional hours)
Part 2 (30 instructional hours)
In Part 1, lectures, demonstrations of treatment, and small group exercises are used to teach DBT theory and strategies in-depth. Upon conclusion of Part 1, participants consolidate and apply what they have learned with the help of practice assignments that are intended to guide the implementation process. Teams design and begin to implement their own DBT programs or to integrate DBT into an ongoing treatment setting. In Part 2, each team presents their work and receives expert consultation on specific cases and on their program, including protocols for specific treatment problems and adaptations of DBT.
This live remote instructor-led program of study consists of 10 days of training, divided into 2 parts of 5 days each, delivered via video conference embedded in a learning management system (LMS) for a total of 60 instructor-led hours. The typical length of the full course of study is 6 months to 1 year.
Primary Objective:
As a result of this training participants will be able to provide DBT.
Part 1 – Learning Objectives:
Part 2 – Learning Objectives:
Please Note all Times Listed are in Eastern Daylight Time.
8:30 – 9:00 AM | Registration and Sign in |
9:00 – 9:30 AM | Mindfulness |
9:30 – 10:45 AM | Morning Session 1 |
10:45 – 11:00 AM | Break |
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM | Morning Session 2 |
12:15 – 1:15 PM | Lunch |
1:15 – 2:30 PM | Afternoon Session 1 |
2:30 – 2:45 PM | Break |
2:45 – 4:00 PM | Afternoon Session 2 |
4:00 – 4:30 PM | Q&A, Evaluations, and Sign out |
CE NOTE: Behavioral Tech 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.
Kalamazoo, MI (United States) Gwen Abney-Cunningham, LMSW, is currently a fulltime Behavioral Tech consultant and trainer. Prior to coming to Behavioral Tech full time, she was employed at a community mental health agency for 32 years, in many roles, including; DBT Services Supervisor, Outpatient Services Director, and most recently as Evidenced Based Treatment Director. Gwen received her bachelor’s degree from Hope College and her MSW from Grand Valley State University. She has 30 plus years of professional experience and is a member of one of the first teams in the U.S. to apply DBT within an ACT program. Gwen is intensively trained in DBT and an experienced workshop leader at state, national, and international conferences. Gwen continues to work as a DBT therapist because it is effective and the hope it brings to clients and their families. As a BTECH Trainer and consultant, she is also able to assist many mental health providers in learning the treatment to assist in helping many individuals. Gwen’s experience in DBT includes individual and skills training for adults, adolescents and families and providing DBT supervision to clinicians. In addition, she has assisted in the development and implementation of DBT on ACT teams and in outpatient settings. Gwen has been involved with the large-scale implementations of DBT in Michigan for Community Mental Health settings. She has been a Behavioral Tech trainer for 20 plus years. Gwen has also served on the Behavioral Tech Trainer Advisory Committee and the Behavioral Tech Implementation Science Workgroup.
Donna Pattie, MSW, LICSW is the DBT Trainer and Consultant for 15 DBT outpatient teams at Nystrom & Associates, Ltd across the state of MN. Donna is a Linehan Board Certified DBT therapist and DBT Team Lead in New Brighton, MN for a Linehan Board Program Certified Team. Donna supervises team members and interns and has delivered DBT in both the Adult and Adolescent/Family programs since 2011. She was intensively trained by Melanie Harned in DBT PE, and has delivered DBT PE for the last 6 years. She supervises Nystrom clinicians across MN in the delivery of DBT PE monthly. Donna has run DBT standard adult outpatient groups, a DBT Adaptive Skills group for clients with traumatic brain injury/developmental delays and a DBT SUD group for clients with co-occurring substance use disorders. Prior to her work in MN, Donna delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in an outpatient private practice in North Easton, MA and previously was the Team Lead at the Brockton VA Medical Center’s Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Team. She started her work at the VA on the Substance Use Disorder Inpatient Detoxification and Rehabilitation programs. Donna brings over 30 years of experience in the clinical field and has a passion for fidelity to DBT and training both new and experienced clinicians in the field. She received her Master’s degree in clinical social work from Simmons College School of Social Work in Boston, MA.
Amman, Jordan Basma Kilani, M.A., is a DBT-LBC Certified Clinician by the Linehan Institute from Amman, Jordan where she is Founder & Chief Specialist at the Maria Den Braven Mental Health Center. She is also the Managing Director of DBT-MENA, the BTECH affiliate in that region. Basma began studying DBT in 2008 as a graduate student at the University of Jordan. In 2016-17, Basma’s team completed DBT Intensive Training through British Isles DBT. In 2019, Basma was appointed DBT Ambassador in Jordan by Behavioral Tech/ Linehan Institute, Basma joined the BTECH training team as a Trainer in 2022; André Ivanoff serves as her training mentor. Basma became the BTECH Affiliate head for DBT MENA in 2021. Basma hosted a Skillful Living Training in October 2020 , Foundational Training with Nick Salsman, and has presented in three DBT Intensives, two in the MENA region in 2020-21, and the other at Columbia University in 2021-22. Basma has a published Master’s dissertation on the prevalence of eating disorders amongst young adults in Jordan. Basma’s PhD research under Michaela Swales’ supervision is on the association between adverse childhood experiences and non-suicidal self Injury (NSSI) mediated by shame as well the implementation of DBT skills training in Jordan. She is also currently involved in survey research with 180 participants in the MENA region who have completed DBT Intensive Training. Basma is committed to the dissemination of DBT, not only in the Middle East, but across the globe.
All team members must read the following prior to Part 1:
The DBT Intensive Training is designed to help attendees build an effective treatment program. DBT is a treatment that requires an ongoing consultation team. Therefore, the training is only open to teams consisting of three to eight people. Individuals and teams of less than three will not be accepted. Each team member is expected to attend the entire ten days of training.
Primary texts required for DBT training
Tuition
3 team members | $10,000 per team |
4 team members | $10,000 per team |
5 team members | $12,500 per team |
6 team members | $15,000 per team |
7 team members | $17,500 per team |
8 team members | $20,000 per team |
Application Form
You may pay for the application fee (to indicate your interest) by adding an App Fee ticket to your cart and completing the checkout process. Please note that we will cancel your application fee if we do not receive your application form(s) within 7 days of app-fee payment.
All team members must complete their own applications.
Acceptance Notification
We will review applications in the order they are received.
Tuition Payment Terms
Your tuition payment is due upon receipt of the invoice; if payment is not received, we may release your space to another applicant. Please contact us at 206.675.8588 to discuss any extenuating circumstances affecting your prompt payment. Application fees and tuition are non-refundable.
Prices are quoted in U.S. dollars. We accept credit cards (Discover, MasterCard, Visa, and American Express), U.S. checks, and bank transfers. All payments must be in U.S. funds; we are unable to accept foreign checks. Please contact Customer Service at 206.675.8588 or at mailto:support@behavioraltech.org for more information about ACH or wire transfer payment options.
Due to the comprehensive nature of this training, there are no cancellations or substitutions available. If extenuating circumstances arise that prevent full attendance, please contact us as soon as possible to discuss your situation. We will do our best to provide alternative options for completing training curriculum.
For a complete list of Behavioral Tech policies and limits of liability, 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.
Our Online Portal (powered by Thinkific) will be used to host the live Zoom sessions and share supplemental materials. To test your internet connection, camera, and microphone, you can use Zoom’s testing application.
If this offering is approved for Continuing Education or Continuing Medical Education, BTECH verifies that it meets the requirements for the number of hours for each discipline listed below. If there are no listings, this offering does not provide continuing education credits. 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.
100% attendance, a passing grade of 70% or higher on all exams, and completed daily evaluations for each training day for both part 1 and part 2 of this training are required to receive continuing education credits.
Mental Health Counselors
Behavioral Tech is approved as 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 = 60.
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 = 60.
Social Workers- WA
Behavioral Tech will apply the NASW, Washington State Chapter, Provider Number 1975-166, to offer continuing education for Certified Social Workers. Behavioral Tech will email a certificate of attendance upon 100% completion of this activity. The hours of CE allocated for this activity = 60.
Social Workers – NY
Behavioral Tech is approved recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers, #0040. Behavioral Tech will email a letter documenting attendance to participants with 100% completion of the program and homework. The hours allocated for this activity = 60.
Nurses (online training)
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 = 60.
Psychiatrists (online training)
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 = 60.
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