Strengthening Your Practice of DBT

Training Description

Purpose: This training is intended to enhance specific therapist skills initially developed in comprehensive training in DBT.

Content: This training focuses on enhancing skills in DBT problem solving, case conceptualization, and measuring
outcomes.

Length & Schedule: This training consists of 8 training modules for a total of 12 instructor-led hours delivered over 2 days of training.

For Whom: Therapists who have completed the equivalent of either DBT Foundational Training or DBT Intensive Training, be currently engaged in the provision of DBT services, and want to strengthen their practice of DBT.

Many persons who complete comprehensive training in DBT (Foundational and Intensive Trainings) often experience great enthusiasm for the treatment and a sense of learning very important information about treating persons with complex problems. They also often report feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information and stymied in their attempts to apply what is learned. Many veterans of comprehensive DBT training find that facility with application of the treatment develops over time. This course is designed as a “next steps” training, specifically for persons who are interested in strengthening the skills they acquired in their comprehensive DBT training and subsequent clinical work to become more proficient in applying the treatment. Therapists who have completed the equivalent of either DBT Foundational Training or DBT Intensive Training, be currently
engaged in the provision of DBT services and want to strengthen their practice of DBT.

Topics:
1. Getting from goals to targets and from targets to solutions
2. Assessing controlling variables
3. Solution analysis: Cognitive modification
4. Solution analysis: Contingency management
5. Conceptualizing dialectical dilemmas in the treatment of borderline personality disorder
6. Considerations related to racism and culture in DBT skills training
7. Measuring outcomes in clinical practice
8. . Effectively addressing secondary targets in DBT
This training consists of 8 training modules for a total of 12 instructor-led hours. The modules can be delivered in 2 days of
training.

As is the case with all BTECH trainings, each day will begin with mindfulness and a review of the previous day, and each day will end with daily summaries. Learning will occur via didactic information, treatment demonstrations, and group practice. Participants are expected to have completed comprehensive DBT training, be currently engaged in the provision of DBT services, and want to strengthen their practice of DBT. 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.

Learning Objectives:
1. Define measurable goals for patients who have difficulty with identification of their goals.
2. Link client targets to goals.
3. Identify problem behaviors that must be eliminated or decreased in order for patients to attain goals.
4. Identify behaviors that are needed for patients to attain goals.
5. Identify the most pertinent behavior for analysis at specific points in treatment.
6. Obtain a behavioral definition of the identified problem behavior.
7. Identify the most pertinent controlling variables in a chain.
8. Determine the most critical points of intervention in a chain analysis.
9. Identify the steps used in DBT problem solving.
10. Identify potential obstacles with using cognitive modifications in DBT.
10. Engage in collaborative development of solutions.
11. Employ behavioral rehearsal in the implementation of solutions.
11. Manage contingencies in the lives of patients that increase the likelihood of them obtaining their goals.
12. Identify the most effective change procedures based on problems identified in a chain analysis.
12. Describe how the behavior of the therapist is used to manage contingencies in sessions.
13. Describe potential obstacles associated with Contingency Management in and outside of sessions.
13. Implement cognitive modification procedures as utilized in DBT.
14. Evaluate the use of contingency procedures in my own and other cases.
14. Identify potential obstacles with the use of cognitive modification in DBT.
15. Explain the distinction between dialectical dilemmas and secondary targets.
15. Manage contingencies in the lives of patients that increase the likelihood of them obtaining their goals.
16. Develop hypotheses about patients’ experiences and problems, based on the dialectical dilemmas experienced by
persons with BPD as proposed by DBT.
16. Describe how the behavior of the therapist is used to manage contingencies in sessions.
17. Describe potential obstacles associated with Contingency Management in and outside of sessions.
17. Describe the rationale for cultural humility in skills training.
18. Evaluate the use of contingency procedures in my own and other cases.
18. Ask assessment questions about the impact of a client’s culture on their experience learning and using DBT skills.
19. Describe the rationale for cultural humility in skills training.
19. Give specific examples of the impact of racism on skill selection and application.
20. Ask assessment questions about the impact of a client’s culture on their experience learning and using DBT skills.
20. Give examples of using DBT skills to address race-based discrimination.
21. List three central purposes of outcome data.
21. Give specific examples of the impact of racism on skill selection and application.
22. Give examples of using DBT skills to address race-based discrimination.
22. Identify major barriers and solutions to collecting outcome data.
23. Explore and identify the right level of data for your organizational and clinical purposes.
24. Identify an array of specific methods and instruments used to collect outcome data.
25. Create a plan for long-term outcome measurement in your practice or organization

Schedule

August 20-21, 2026

7:00 AM – 2:30 PM Pacific Time/9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Central Time/10:00 AM – 5:30 PM 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

Participants are expected to have completed comprehensive DBT training, be currently engaged in the provision of DBT services, and want to strengthen their practice of DBT. 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

This training builds on DBT Foundational/Intensive training. It is assumed that participants have completed the required readings for those courses. In addition, it is recommended that participants are familiar with the readings below.

NOTE: Additional readings may be added to this list as we finalize the training materials.

• Rizvi, S. L. (2019). Chain Analysis in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Guilford Publications.
• Heard, H. L., & Swales, M. A. (2015). Changing Behavior in DBT?: Problem Solving in Action. Guilford Publications.

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Attend

Tuition Information

• Early Bird Tuition: $549 per participant (U.S. dollars) | Discount ends May 28, 2026
• Standard Tuition: $649 per participant (U.S. dollars)
• Registration will close when all seats are sold, or on August 7, 2026 (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, prior to Day 1 of 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.
  • Participants are responsible for printing out their materials in the online portal.
• 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