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Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive treatment developed by Marsha Linehan PhD specifically for chronically suicidal patients with Borderline Personality Disorder.  However, DBT is also being used to treat other populations including clients with eating disorders, substance use and addiction, and other emotional dysregulation behaviours with significant results in both adult and adolescents.  It has been adapted for inpatient and forensic settings. This empirically validated treatment approach has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing clients suicidal and self-harm behaviour, reducing frequency of hospitalizations, maintaining motivation towards treatment, and decreasing substance use.  Listed Below are training programs offered to increase individual practitioners skills in the use of DBT as well as examples of 1-day and 2-day workshops that may be held.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: Introduction

This training serves as an introduction to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and is intended for mental health professionals who wish to familiarize themselves with the treatment modality, with a potential to implement aspects of the treatment into their current practice. The training introduces change-based methods with acceptance-based principals, along with dialectical strategies that provide the balance of acceptance and change.  It also highlights the framework of DBT and defines the modes and functions of comprehensive DBT. Methods of instruction include lecture, role-play and small group exercises to teach DBT theory and strategies in depth.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: Advanced Intensive

In Doing DBT: An Advanced Intensive Training, the instructors will tackle typical problems in the practice of DBT, specifically case conceptualization, behaviour chain analysis and strategies used to address therapy interfering behaviour.  Many DBT clinicians agree that the individual mode of DBT is the most difficult mode to implement. This training will help you add another tool to your DBT tool belt and increase your confidence while delivering this comprehensive model.  This training is intended for participants who have already completed the Introduction to Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.

DBT and Substance Abuse

This training reviews the modifications made when applying Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to clients with concurrent substance use disorders. Participants specifically learn how standard DBT is modified, particularly in the way substance use is targeted, how the DBT Skills vary from standard DBT and are taught to clients, strategies to develop and maintain client commitment to treatment, and how to address when clients become uncommitted. This training is intended for participants who have already completed the Introduction to Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.