Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training: Fundamentals

Training Description

Course Description

This live remote instructor-led course consists of sixteen 90-minute modules delivered online for a total of 24 instructor-led
hours. Each module includes reading and homework tasks. Total participant time required for each module is approximately
2.5 – 3 hours. The modular nature of this course allows us to customize it to the schedule of our clients. Quizzes are included
in each module, and are repeated as a final knowledge test at the end of the program.

Research indicates that DBT skills are a key mechanism of change for suicide attempts, non-suicidal self-injury, depression,
and anger, 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.

This course provides in-depth training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills: Core Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance,
Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness, as well as the training methods required to help patients move from
skills acquisition to generalization of skills into their natural environments. The intended purpose of the various skills and the
rationale (including the evidence) for their place in the treatment are addressed. Clinical examples are used to illustrate
specific skills training procedures. Participants will learn key teaching points for the various skills. Video of roundtable
discussions of DBT experts, and demonstrations of a skills training class are incorporated.

The course is intended for those who have prior knowledge of DBT, and who want to learn DBT skills in depth to improve their
work with their clients. Specifically, participants should either complete Dialectical Behavior Therapy Foundational Training,
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Intensive Training, or DBT Skills: Introduction before participating in this course. The course relies
on Dr. Marsha Linehan’s DBT® Skills Training Manual, Second Edition, and participants should have this book available during
the course.

DBT skills training is one of 4 modes of standard outpatient DBT. For those who want to implement a full DBT program we
recommend completion of the comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy Intensive Training.

Primary Objective
As a result of this training, participants will be able to conduct DBT skills training.

Learning Objectives

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

1. Orient patients to how specific skills will help with specific relevant situations.
2. Conduct missing links analyses of incomplete homework assignments.
3. Conduct brief chain analyses in the context of skills training classes.
4. Demonstrate strategies for increasing client motivation.
5. Demonstrate the ability to manage questions, conversations and comments in skills training.
6. Demonstrate the ability to manage interactions among skills training participants.
7. Demonstrate how to solve problems that arise during skills training class.
8. Employ engaging teaching methods.
9. Conceptualize the rationale for the use of specific DBT skills.
10. Orient patients to the steps required to effectively use DBT skills.
11. Employ questions and activities that can be used to assess skills deficits.
12. Describe situations for skills practice.
13. Demonstrate providing corrective feedback.
14. Employ strategies for motivating patients to engage in skills rehearsal.
15. Identify strategies for engaging in behavioral rehearsal.
16. Demonstrate informal exposure procedures.
17. Employ strategies for shaping skillful behavior.
18. Identify DBT skills for clients to use for specific problems in specific contexts.
19. Motivate clients to use DBT skills by linking skills use to the goals of clients.
20. Identify therapy interfering and therapy destroying behaviors in skills training classes.
21. Identify points of polarization in interactions with patients in skills training.
22. Manage therapy interfering and therapy destroying behaviors in skills training classes.
23. Describe the evidence for the use of DBT Mindfulness skills.
24. Convey the rationale for DBT Mindfulness skills.
25. Identify situations in which Mindfulness skills can be helpful.
26. Teach Core Mindfulness skills to clients.
27. Describe the DBT skill of Wise Mind.
28. Define and describe the three “What” skills (Observe, Describe, and Participate).
29. Define and describe the three “How” skills (Nonjudgmentally, One-Mindfully, and Effectively).
30. Describe the evidence for the use of DBT Interpersonal Effectiveness skills.
31. Convey the rationale for Interpersonal Effectiveness skills.
32. Teach Interpersonal Effectiveness skills to clients.
33. Identify situations where Interpersonal Effectiveness skills can be helpful.
34. Identify skills for making requests or saying no to a request.
35. Identify skills for maintaining relationships.
36. Identify skills for maintaining self-respect.
37. Describe the evidence for the use of DBT Emotions Regulation skills.
38. Convey the rationale for DBT Emotion Regulation skills.
39. Teach Emotion Regulation skills to clients.
40. Identify situations where Emotion Regulation skills can be helpful.
41. Identify skills for changing emotional responses.
42. Describe specific DBT skills that are particularly helpful for anger.
43. Identify skills for reducing emotional vulnerability.
44. Describe the evidence for the use of DBT Distress Tolerance skills.
45. Convey the rationale for DBT Distress Tolerance skills.
46. Identify situations where Distress Tolerance can be helpful.
47. Convey the rationale for the use of reality acceptance skills.
48. Identify skills for reality acceptance.

Short exams covering the content will be given daily. In order to pass this training, the final knowledge exam must be passed with a minimum score of 70% correct. In addition to the exam, 100% attendance is required to receive continuing education credit units.

Schedule

Schedule includes four (4) 90-minute sessions separated by a 15 minute break after the first session, a 1-hour lunch after the second session and a 15 minute break after the third sessions as listed below:

8:30-10:00 – Session 1

10:00-10:15 – Break

10:15-11:45 – Session 2

11:45-12:45 – Lunch

12:45 – 2:15 – Session 3

2:15 – 2:30 – Break

2:30 – 4:00 – Session 4

Trainers

Prerequisites

This course is intended for those who have prior knowledge of DBT, and who want to learn DBT skills in depth to improve their
work with their clients. Specifically, participants should either complete Dialectical Behavior Therapy Foundational Training,
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Intensive Training, or DBT Skills: Introduction before participating in this course.

Study Resources

 Linehan, M.M. (2015). DBT Skills Training Manual: Second Edition. Guilford Press.

Attend

Tuition Costs –

• Early Bird: $700.00 – Cut-off date April 5th, 2021
• Standard Registration: $725.00 – Cut-off date May 24th, 2021
• Last Minute Registration: $750.00, registrations made on or after May 25th, 2021

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.

100% Attendance is required to receive CEs. We are not able to make exceptions for technical issues. You are responsible for logging into your Thinkific account before the training begins to ensure that you are correctly registered.

Technical Requirements

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.

Continuing Education

Continuing Education Credit Information

Behavioral Tech cannot offer partial credit. To receive Continuing Education Credits, participants are required by the CE Boards to
meet all criteria listed below:
1) Attend 100% of the training
2) Complete the Last Day Evaluation survey, and
3) Pass the Post Assessment(s) with a score of 70% or higher
Please remember to login through the Zoom online platform to document your attendance. Continuing Education will be emailed to
you 4-6 weeks after the training.

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.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors

Behavioral Tech is approved by NAADAC – the Association for Addiction Professionals, Provider #77431. Behavioral Tech, LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming. You will receive a letter via email documenting your attendance upon successful completion of the activity. The allotted CE hours for this activity = 24.

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 the successful completion of the activity. The allocated clock hours for this activity = 24.

Psychologists 

Behavioral Tech is approved by 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 the successful completion of the program and homework. The number of hours Behavioral Tech has allocated within APA guidelines = 24.

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 = 24

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 = 24.

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 = 24.

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 = 24.

Notice of requirements for successful completion: For all trainings (both in-person and remote), participants must attend 100% of the training and complete the Final Evaluation to receive a certificate of successful completion. This includes signing in and out each day/session of the event. For remote, Instructor-led training, participants have to pass the Post Assessment(s) with a score of 70% or higher.