Calming The Emotional Storm: Introduction to Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Over 75% of mental illnesses described in the DSM are related to emotion dysregulation – the inability to manage emotions effectively. Given that Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was initially created to treat Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), of which emotion dysregulation is a primary problem, it only makes sense that DBT would be effective in treating other disorders, and research in recent years is supporting this. This training program will provide an introduction to DBT, including the origins of the therapy, and the Biosocial Theory of how emotion dysregulation develops. You will learn about some of the research demonstrating that DBT is effective in treating disorders other than BPD. Finally, you will learn about Dialectics, and the importance of balancing validation with change with the dysregulated client; and how to effectively use validation to help clients re-regulate in session, as well as how to teach them to practice this skill on their own.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this seminar, participants will be able to:

• Explain the difference between CBT and DBT
• Explain the idea of emotion dysregulation and how it affects individuals with disorders other than BPD 3. Describe the Biosocial Theory of emotion dysregulation in order to develop a better understanding of clients, and in order to use this as an intervention so clients can better understand and validate themselves
• Describe the basics of Dialectics and some of the ways this plays out in sessions, including helping therapists balance between acceptance and change.
• Use validation to help de-escalate clients during session

CONTENT

• Emotion Dysregulation
• What is DBT?
• Standard DBT
• Modifying DBT
• Biosocial
• Theory of Borderline
• Personality Disorder
• Dialectics
• Validation
• Behavior Theory
• Reducing Therapist Burn-Out
• Overview of DBT Skills

FOR WHOM

Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, Therapists, Psychiatrists and Nurses

TRAINING METHODOLOGY

The training methodology combines lectures, discussions, group exercises and illustrations. Participants will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge of the topics. The emphasis is on the practical application of the topics and as a result participant will go back to the workplace with both the ability and the confidence to apply the techniques learned to their duties.