Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents & Their caregivers

Training Description

Purpose: This training addresses adaptations to standard DBT designed to fill the gaps in practice between the treatment and service needs that are specific to adolescents with complex problems.

Content: The training outlines the rationale for DBT with adolescents and their caregivers and provides a conceptual framework for addressing the complex problems of adolescents with pervasive emotion dysregulation. It details specific enhancements to standard DBT designed to address these
problems.

Length & Schedule: This course consists of 12 modules for a total of 18 instructor-led hours and a supplemental module several months after completion. Each module includes reading and homework tasks. Total time required for participants to complete the training, including hours of instruction, reading, and homework is approximately 2.5 – 3.0 hours for each module.

For Whom: The course is intended for those who want to implement and work in a DBT adolescent program. Participants are required to have completed the equivalent of either Dialectical Behavior Therapy Foundational Training or Dialectical Behavior Therapy Intensive Training and be currently engaged
in the provision of DBT services to adolescents and their caregivers.

Core Description:
Subsequent to the initial publication of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with adults, one of the earliest developments was the application of DBT for adolescents with multiple problems and high risk for suicide and self-injurious behavior. DBT for adolescents and their caregivers was developed by Drs. Jill Rathus, Alec Miller, and Marsha Linehan to address the complex and unique challenges that arise during treatment with these adolescents.
This case-based training will provide an overview of the application of DBT to address the needs of adolescents and their environments, including a conceptualization of the problems faced by adolescents and their caregivers, with focus on multi-family skills training and structuring the environment of the adolescent. The instruction on skills training includes both structuring multi-family skills training classes and ensuring generalization of treatment gains
throughout the environment. Attention is also paid to the nuances of individual therapy with adolescents and the impact of family involvement. This training includes 2.5 hours on suicide risk assessment and management with adolescents. This training is intended to be highly interactive. It is recommended that participants come to the course with cases of specific adolescents and caregivers in mind to apply, strengthen, and generalize what is learned. A case of one of the participants, developed during the training, will be chosen as the focus of consultation in the second to last module of the training. Those who wish to have their case considered may submit it using the worksheet provided in the learning management system (LMS) of the course. The teaching methods include didactics, case examples and demonstrations, behavioral rehearsal, writing exercises, small group discussions, and consultation on participants’ question and cases. 100% attendance for the 12 modules and a passing score of 75% is required on a knowledge test for successful completion of the course. It is assumed that all who register for the course are willing to both provide and receive consultation on their work from the trainers and other participants. The supplemental module is based on responses to the knowledge test and a survey of participants’ implementation of what is learned. The supplemental module is not counted towards Continuing Education credits.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify risk factors for emotion dysregulation within the adolescent population.
2. Clarify when DBT is the best fit for adolescents and their caregivers.
3. Explain how the biosocial model applies to adolescents and the transaction with their environment.
4. Describe behavioral patterns/dialectical dilemmas for adolescents.
5. Describe behavioral patterns/dialectical dilemmas for their environment.
6. Conceptualize adolescents’ behavior in the context of their culture.
7. Explain the relationship between behavioral principles (reinforcement and punishment) and the transaction in
the environment.
8. Demonstrate use of effective validation strategies with adolescents and their caregivers.
9. Explain the importance of dialectics to adolescents and their environment.
10. Describe the evidence for employing DBT with adolescents and their caregivers.
11. Compare and contrast differences in standard DBT delivery versus DBT for adolescents.
12. Structure individual therapy sessions for adolescents in DBT.
13. Describe commitment strategies when working with adolescents and their caregivers.
14. Describe strategies to assist adolescents with managing their environment.
15. Identify when additional sessions with the adolescent’s environment are needed.

Schedule

October 8 – October 10, 2025

Supplemental Module: February 6, 2026

7:00am – 2:30pm Pacific Time / 9:00am-4:30pm Central Time / 10:00am-5:30pm Eastern Time
Sign-In from 6:30am – 7:00am Pacific Time / 8:30am-9:00am Central Time / 9:30am-10:00am Eastern Time

Trainers

Prerequisites

Preparation & Training Requirements
Participants should plan to complete the readings and homework assignments for each module of the course at the time
that the module is presented.

Participants are expected to have completed comprehensive DBT training, be currently engaged in the provision of DBT services, and want to learn how to implement a DBT adolescent program. As such, the training builds on an expectation that participants are well-versed in the content of standard DBT. Specifically, participants should complete Dialectical Behavior Therapy Foundational Training or Dialectical Behavior Therapy Intensive Training before
participating in this training.

Study Resources

Readings for DBT for Adolescents

◼ Miller, A. L., Rathus, J. H., & Linehan, M. M. (2007). Dialectical behavior therapy with suicidal adolescents. Guilford
Publications.
◼ Rathus, J. H., & Miller, A.L. (2017). DBT Skills Manual for Adolescents. The Guilford Press.

Attend

Tuition Information

• Early Bird Tuition: $750 per participant (U.S. dollars) | Discount ends September 5, 2025
• Standard Tuition: $795 per participant (U.S. dollars)
• Registration will close when all seats are sold, or on October 1, 2025 (final cut-off date)

IMPORTANT: Two weeks prior to the training, participants will receive an email from our Online Portal (powered by Thinkific) with a sign-in URL for this training. Please follow the instructions in the email to log in to our Online Portal and set your password, one week before the training.

Participants will retain access to the online course until 1 month after the last training session date. All course requirements must be completed before course access expires.

Please email support@behavioraltech.org if you have any questions about accessing your training.

Cancellations, Substitutions and Refunds
For a complete list of Behavioral Tech policies and limits of liability, see our Sales & Refund Policy page.

Technical Requirements

• Our Online Portal (powered by Thinkific) will be used to host the live Zoom sessions and share supplemental materials. All Live-Remote Trainings require each participant to have:
  • A high-speed Internet Service Connection with a minimum speed of 5Mbps. Test your internet speed. 
  • The most recent version of any of the following web-browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox , Safari , Microsoft Edge (Please note Internet Explorer will not be supported) 
  • Web-browser configurations must have Javascript enabled and popup blockers disabled.
  • The following software applications: Zoom, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, A PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, or the ability to view PDFs in a web-browser. To test your internet connection, camera, and microphone for Zoom, you can use Zoom’s testing application.
  • No firewall restrictions. If a firewall is installed, please be aware that may interfere with the training content and materials, as it may be blocked. Please include the following 3rd party services to trusted sites list(s):
    • Thinkific Learning Management System: https://behavioraltech.thinkific.com/
    • SurveyMonkey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/
    • Zoom: https://zoom.us/

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 support@behavioraltech.org. And for general CE questions, you can review answers to Continuing Education Credits – Behavioral Tech Institute or contact us.

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. Only participants with 100% attendance, and who have completed the Post-Event Evaluation and passed their Final Exam with a score of 75% or higher will receive credit. Behavioral Tech cannot offer partial credit. Please remember to sign in and sign out each day to document your attendance. Continuing Education documentation will be emailed to you 4-6 weeks after the last day of training.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors
Behavioral Tech will apply to 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 = 18.

Mental Health Counselors
Behavioral Tech is approved by an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP™) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements. The ACEP solely is 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 = 18.

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 = 18

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 = 18.

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 for this activity = 18.

Psychologists – New York
Behavioral Tech is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists, #PSY-0063. Behavioral Tech will email a certificate of attendance upon 100% completion of this activity. The total contact hour allocated for this activity = 18.

Social Workers- Washington
Behavioral Tech will apply to 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 = 18.

Social Workers – New York
Behavioral Tech is approved by 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 = 18.

General CE/CME Disclosures and Policies

Conflict of interest definition: A conflict of interest may be considered to exist if a continuing education course faculty is affiliated with, or has any significant financial interest, in any organization(s) that may have a direct interest in the subject matter of the presentation or may be co-sponsoring or offering financial support to the course. Situations involving a potential conflict of interest are not inherently bad or wrong, but in accordance with standards for continuing medical education we would like you to be aware of the affiliation/financial interest of your instructors.

Faculty Disclaimer: When an unlabelled use of a commercial product, or an investigative use not yet approved for any purpose is discussed during an educational activity, we shall require the speaker to disclose that the product is not labeled for the use under discussion or that the product is still investigative.

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 online training, participants have to pass the Post Assessment(s) with a score of 75% or higher.

Commercial support or sponsorship: There is no commercial company support for this CME/CE event.

Noncommercial Sponsor Support: There is no noncommercial sponsor support for this CME/CE activity.

Non-Endorsement of Products: The Behavioral Tech approval status refers only to continuing education activities and does not imply that there is real or implied endorsement of any product, service, or company referred to in this activity nor of any company subsidizing costs related to the activity.

Off-Label Product Use: This CME/CE activity does not include any unannounced information about off-label use of a product for a purpose other than that for which it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships: Faculty members are required to disclose all conflicts of interest and any relevant financial relationships that may affect the training content. Unless specified on Behavioral Tech’s website or on other printed materials/media, none of the individuals in a position to control the content of this CE/CME activity (including planners, editors, CE/CME Review Committee members, faculty presenters, moderators/facilitators, reviewers, etc.) have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.

CE Reprint Policy: For missing/lost CE documentation, an administrative fee of $50 is required for all CE/CME activities after 2017. For CE reprints prior to 2017, please refer to the website or contact support@behavioraltech.org. Please refer to the CE FAQ webpage: Continuing Education Credits – Behavioral Tech Institute