DBT Skills Training: Essentials™

About the Course

This 2-day introductory workshop covers the essential DBT Skills: Core Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness and is designed for all mental health professionals who want to learn DBT skills to improve their work with their clients. It also provides an overview of the manner in which DBT conceptualises problems, as well as the behaviour change, validation, and dialectical strategies used across all modes of the treatment.

Participants learn the goals of each skills module, and the targets for DBT skills training. They are also taught how to apply fundamental DBT strategies in skills training and coaching, so as to maintain dialectical balance in the endeavour. Clinical examples are used to illustrate specific skills training procedures.

DBT skills are one of 4 modes of standard outpatient DBT. Whilst attendance at this workshop is expected to enhance clinical work, the workshop will not result in participants knowing how to conduct full DBT. For those who want to implement a full DBT programme we recommend completion of the comprehensive Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Intensive Training™.

Primary Objectives:
As a result of this training, participants will be able to describe the key elements of DBT skills training.

Learning Objectives

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Describe the dialectical nature of DBT skills training.
• Identify the targets for DBT skills training.
• Explain the goals of the DBT skills modules.
• Identify the strategies and procedures required for effective DBT skills training.
• Explain the progression from skills acquisition and strengthening to generalisation.

Prerequisites

Prior knowledge of DBT is not required. This training will be enhanced if participants are familiar with Dr. Marsha Linehan’s DBT® Skills Training Manual, Second Edition, and should attend the training with this book.