This 8-day, 40-hour Principle DBT Training is a course designed to cover DBT’s comprehensive knowledge base and to improve the DBT practice of the therapist.  The ideal participant is one who has previous knowledge and exposure to DBT concepts and/or is willing to review foundational DBT treatment manuals and texts (i.e., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (Linehan, 1993a) and Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder (Linehan, 2015)).  

This training will increase both the clinicians’ knowledge and  practice of adherent DBT treatment. With over 30 years of combined experience as therapists and DBT practitioners, the instructors have creatively designed a comprehensive, accelerated, and inclusive training that captures the foundational principles, concepts, and strategies of DBT treatment.

This training will cover research, theory, principles, target populations, functions and modes of treatment, goals, stages, and  targets of treatment, agreements and assumptions, treatment strategies, DBT behavioral skills, suicide risk assessment and management, and consultation team. Instructors will utilize experiential and didactic techniques including role-play and homework to insure generalization of participants’ learning. Through small group break-out sessions, participants will have an opportunity to practice applying DBT strategies and receive immediate feedback from instructors.

Training is conducted in two 3-day sessions and a final 2-day session.  Participants will have an opportunity to present brief case conceptualizations, develop treatment planning, and discuss individual challenges in delivering this therapy. Practice assignments will be given in between sessions and is expected to be completed in accordance with the treatment model. This training meets the minimum requirements for DBT-related didactic training hours that can be used toward DBT certification through the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification. Participants must attend all 8 days. Once training is completed, participants will have first priority to join an on-going,  bi-monthly training consultation team led by the instructors.