Behavioral Tech Announces Fall 2012 Training Opportunities in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

SEATTLE, WA, July 24, 2012 (Press-News.org) Behavioral Tech's Fall 2012 training season will feature the most experienced and outstanding trainers in the field of DBT at training locations throughout the United States.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), developed by Marsha M. Linehan, Ph.D., ABPP, at the University of Washington, is a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD). DBT is especially effective for those with chronic suicidal or other severe, dysfunctional behaviors. Research has shown DBT to be effective in reducing suicidal behavior, psychiatric hospitalization, dropout from treatment, substance abuse, anger, and interpersonal difficulties.

Behavioral Tech trains mental health care providers and treatment teams who work with complex and severely disordered populations to use compassionate, scientifically valid treatments and to implement and evaluate these treatments in their practice setting. Behavioral Tech develops and applies the most effective and efficient methods of training and provides a range of opportunities to learn state-of-the-art treatments to a competent level.

Behavioral Tech is the only company exclusively authorized to utilize and disseminate Dr. Marsha M. Linehan's materials for training in DBT. Due to this relationship with the treatment developer, Behavioral Tech always maintains and trains with the most current materials.

The 2012 Fall Training Season features:

Coping with Chaos: Treating Multiple Severe Disorders with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Locations: Columbus-Worthington, OH & Fort Lauderdale-Plantation, FL

This two-day workshop is designed to be an overview of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Change-based technology (behavior therapy) with acceptance-based principles (validation) are introduced along with dialectical strategies (those that provide the balance of acceptance and change). The frame of DBT is highlighted and the modes and functions of comprehensive DBT are defined. Topics include: the diagnosis and biosocial theory of borderline personality disorder; DBT treatment targets and structure of treatment for multi-problem, high-risk clients, including the modes and functions of comprehensive DBT programs; core strategies used in DBT, including problem solving, validation, and dialectical strategies; and introduction to DBT psycho-educational group skills training. The training is intended for mental health professionals who wish to acquaint themselves with the DBT treatment or who are considering further training in DBT.

Mindfulness, Willingness, and Radical Acceptance in Psychotherapy
Locations: Minneapolis, MN & Los Angeles, CA

Mindfulness skills have emerged as an important focus of several empirically supported treatments. The roots of mindfulness stem from the contemplative practices common to both Eastern and Western spiritual disciplines and to the emerging scientific knowledge about the benefits of "allowing" experiences rather than suppressing or avoiding them. Both Eastern and Western psychologies, as well as spiritual practices, are converging on these same insights. This training will be both experiential and tutorial, consisting of practice and discussion of various mindfulness exercises and practices (both in and outside of the workshop) combined with lecture and discussion of strategies for teaching each of the mindfulness skills. The specific mindfulness skills taught in this workshop come from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), an empirically supported treatment for individuals with difficulties regulating emotions and impulsive behavior. Part of the treatment consists of teaching and coaching individuals in very specific mindfulness skills and practice of mindfulness by the therapist. This workshop will present an overview of these specific skills and strategies for integrating them into clinical practice. The training is intended for therapists using all approaches and is not aimed specifically at DBT or CBT therapists.

DBT: Treating Clients with Borderline Personality Disorder and Substance Use Disorders
Location: New Canaan, CT

This two-day training is a highly practical, applied workshop that provides participants with a thorough working knowledge of the additions made to standard DBT when applying Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to clients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and substance use disorders. Participants specifically learn how DBT, when applied to populations with comorbid disorders, is adapted for BPD clients in the way that substance use is targeted, how behavioral skills are taught in skills training group, how clients are attached to therapy in the beginning of treatment, and how therapists are supported when clients are in danger of dropping out of therapy. The training is intended for mental health professionals who have some experience, a working knowledge of, and/or prior training in DBT skills and want to apply DBT for use with clients with multiple problems, including substance abuse and addictive behaviors.

Visit www.behavioraltech.org for easy online registration and complete training details, continuing education information, student and group rates, recommended products, and online training opportunities.