Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Course

Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Treating Clients Who Experience Emotional and Behavioral Dysregulation

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT, Linehan, 1993) was developed by Marsha M. Linehan, Ph.D. at the University of Washington. DBT was initially developed as a comprehensive, evidence-based outpatient treatment which combines cognitive behavioral theory and eastern mindfulness for adults who meet criteria for borderline personality disorder, especially those at high risk for hospitalization, life-threatening or other chronic and severe mental health symptoms. DBT has also been adapted and researched to be successful in treating people with other serious diagnoses such as eating disorders, substance abuse disorders, depression, PTSD, and others. In addition, DBT has been adapted to be effective with other client populations such as children, adolescents and their families.

Because of the success of DBT, programs from all levels of care (outpatient, inpatient, intensive outpatient, forensic and even school settings) have incorporated the model and are using DBT to achieve more effective outcomes with recovery from mental health symptoms and behaviors.

This 18 CE training is designed to introduce theories related to DBT, a review of the research and skills that are taught, and core DBT interventions and strategies to teach adaptive coping and achieve client stability. The participant will come away from the training with a beginning understanding of this comprehensive treatment model, specific interventions and strategies that can be utilized immediately in their practice, and where they can get more intensive training.

This 3-week course will take place on the following Fridays from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM EST: July 18, August 1, and August 8.

Participants will receive 18 CEs following their conclusion of the course. These CE credits meet the eligibility requirements for the 45 CEs needed to apply for certification through the Linehan Board of Certification, the only certification developed and sanctioned by the treatment developer, Marsha Linehan. For more information on eligibility requirements for certification, click here. 

Nancy Gordon, LCSW, has over 40 years of experience working with children, teens, adults, and families in hospital, DJJ, residential, and community mental health center outpatient settings. She opened Tampa Bay Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Inc in 2010.

Nancy received intensive dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) training in 1998 and in 2015 became the first clinician in Florida (and one of the first nationwide) to earn DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™ status.

She now serves as a consultant, trainer, and supervisor for DBT and other evidence-based treatments; co-founded and sits on the board of the Florida Borderline Personality Disorder Association; volunteers with the Linehan Board of Certification; belongs to a national DBT Clinic Owners Consortium; and sits on the Florida NASW Supervision and Licensure Committee. Nancy is a Qualified Supervisor for Florida registered interns and teaches the Qualified Supervisor course.

Additional Program Information:

Target audience: social workers and counselors

Content level: Intermediate/Advanced

Learning objectives:

Class 1

1. Participants will recount 2 research outcomes demonstrating the effectiveness of DBT.

2. Participants will be able to explain the Biosocial Theory of Borderline Personality Disorder.

3. Participants will describe the concept of Dialectics.

Class 2

1. Participants will demonstrate how to apply the intervention of a Diary Card into their practice.

2. Participants will demonstrate how to apply the intervention of a Behavior Chain Analysis into their practice.

3. Participants will name the change and acceptance treatment strategies.

Class 3

1. Participants will describe the five modules of skills that are taught to clients and their families.

2. Participants will complete and practice at least one mindfulness exercise and explain the role of mindfulness in DBT.

3. Participants will share how they will incorporate DBT into their practice setting.

Outline and Agenda:

Class 1

9:00-10:20 Introductions, Mindfulness, Suicide Crisis

10:20-10:40 Break

10:40-12:00 Clinician expertise. What is DBT, Research, BPD Reorganized

12:00-1:00 Lunch Break on your own

1:00-2:00 Biosocial Theory/Role play. Dialectics.

2:00-2:10 Break

2:10-3:00 Stages of Treatment, Pretreatment, Assumptions,

3:00-310 Break

3:10-4:00 Commitment Strategies Wrap up. Homework for Day 2.

Class 2

9:00-10:20 Homework Review, Mindfulness, Phone Coaching, Diary card

10:20-10:40 Break

10:4 10:40-12:00 Stylistic Strategies,  Acceptance Strategies/Validation, Dialectical Strategies

12:00-1:00 Lunch Break on your own

1:00-2:00 Change Strategies: Behaviorism

2:00-2:10 Break

2:10-3:00 Chain analysis

3:00-310 Break

3:10-4:00 Case Management Strategies, Wrap up. Homework for Day 3.

Class 3

9:00-10:20 Homework Review, Mindfulness, Consultation Team, Tx of Suicide

10:20-10:40 Break

10:4 10:40-12:00 Structuring Skills Group

12:00-1:00 Lunch Break on your own

1:00-2:00 Brief Overview of Distress Tolerance Skills

2:00-2:10 Break

2:10-3:00 Brief Overview of Interpersonal Regulation Skills

3:00-310 Break

3:10-4:00 Brief review of Emotion Regulation and Walking the Middle Path Skills, Wrap up. Takeaways.

Course interaction and system requirements:

This live webinar hosted on Zoom is fully interactive. Attendees may ask and answer questions throughout the presentation (using their microphones and/or the chat option). System requirements for Zoom can be viewed at https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362023-System-requirements-for-PC-and-Mac.

Fee and registration:

Cost is $675 for 18 credits. Refunds are available for up to seven days prior to the program (this does not include TicketTailor fees). After that, we offer credit that can be applied to a future program. Registration is open until the course is full. In some cases, we will enable a wait list option once the course is full.

Course completion and CE info:

To attend CE credit, social workers must log in at the scheduled time, attend the entire program and complete an online evaluation at the end of the program.

Certificates will be emailed out within 7 business days following receipt of evaluation.

CE credit is currently available for social workers and counselors in all 50 states. All other professionals (including psychologists and marriage and family therapists) must confirm CE approval with their state board.

Bright Ideas Continuing Education, provider # 1757, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 11/19/2024-11/19/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 18 clinical continuing education credits.

Bright Ideas Continuing Education has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7705. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Bright Ideas Continuing Education is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Bright Ideas Continuing Education is 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 #SW-0781.

​Bright Ideas Continuing Education is also authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners in Maryland to provide social work continuing education.

If you have any questions, concerns or special accommodation requests, please contact us at 410-575-3870 or info@brightideasceus.com.