Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Upgrade Training™

About the Course

The Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Upgrade Training™ is an intensive five‑day programme designed for clinicians who have completed foundational DBT training and are actively working within a comprehensive DBT programme. This training is equivalent to Part II of the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Intensive Training™, providing the depth, and skill development associated with the second phase of full Intensive Training. This advanced programme bridges the gap between foundational and intensive‑level practice, equipping participants with the skills, strategies, and confidence to deliver DBT with greater fidelity and effectiveness.

Through a combination of expert-led teaching, experiential learning, case-based consultation, and team exercises, participants will deepen their understanding of DBT principles, refine their clinical application, and strengthen their ability to conceptualize complex cases. The training emphasizes practical implementation, sustainability of DBT programmes, and advanced problem-solving strategies for high-risk behaviours, including suicide crisis intervention.

This course is ideal for:

• Clinicians seeking to upgrade from foundational to intensive-level DBT practice.
• Teams managing staff turnover or onboarding new members into established DBT programmes.
• Practitioners refreshing and consolidating their DBT knowledge to promote adherence to the model.
• Individuals trained by other providers who wish to align with best-practice standards.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

Clinical Application

• Conduct suicide risk assessments and implement evidence-based crisis intervention protocols.
• Apply DBT principles and strategies across modalities (individual therapy, skills training, consultation).
• Demonstrate accurate DBT case formulations with behavioural specificity and dialectical analysis.
• Link treatment targets to client goals and organize interventions based on stages of treatment.

Programme Implementation

• Design and adapt DBT programmes for diverse settings while maintaining fidelity to the model.
• Balance adaptation and adoption to ensure sustainability and effectiveness.
• Utilize implementation science variables (e.g., feasibility, fidelity, sustainability) to strengthen DBT delivery.

 Consultation and Team Development

• Actively participate in DBT consultation team meetings, applying dialectical strategies to resolve team and clinical challenges.
• Strengthen consultation teams through commitment strategies, reciprocal vulnerability exercises, and adherence to DBT agreements.
• Implement consultation-to-the-client and consultation-to-the-therapist strategies to overcome barriers in treatment delivery.

Advanced Problem-Solving

• Conduct chain and solution analyses to identify the controlling variables influencing problem behaviours.
• Select and implement DBT problem-solving strategies (skills training, cognitive modification, exposure, contingency management).
• Intervene effectively in secondary targets (dialectical dilemmas) to support progress on primary treatment goals.

Prerequisites

All applicants require a core professional qualification in mental health (e.g. nursing, psychiatry, psychology, social work) and must have successfully completed Foundational training (or equivalent).