DBT for Adolescents and their Caregivers

Dates: 

January 31st – February 1st 

And 

February 7th – February 8th 

Time: 4:00 PM – 8:30 PM (GMT+3)

Trainers: Lorie Ritschel and Gwen Abney-Cunningham

Location: Online via Zoom 

Language: English 

Fees: $700

Training Details:

Purpose: This training addresses adaptations to standard DBT designed to fill the gaps in practice between the treatment and service needs that are specific to adolescents with complex problems.

Content: The training outlines the rationale for DBT with adolescents and their caregivers and provides a conceptual framework for addressing the complex problems of adolescents with pervasive emotion dysregulation. It details specific enhancements to standard DBT designed to address these problems. 

Core Description

Subsequent to the initial publication of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with adults, one of the earliest developments the was the application of DBT for adolescents with multiple problems and high risk for suicide and self-injurious behavior. DBT for adolescents and their caregivers was developed by Drs. Jill Rathus, Alec Miller, and Marsha Linehan to address the complex and unique challenges that arise during treatment with these adolescents. This case-based training will provide an overview of the application of DBT to address the needs of adolescents and their environments, including a conceptualization of the problems faced by adolescents and their caregivers, with focus on multi-family skills training and structuring the environment of the adolescent. The instruction on skills training includes both structuring multi-family skills training classes and ensuring generalization of treatment gains throughout the environment. Attention is also paid to the nuances of individual therapy with adolescents and the impact of family involvement. This training includes 2.5 hours on suicide risk assessment and management with adolescents. This training is intended to be highly interactive. It is recommended that participants come to the course with cases of specific adolescents and caregivers in mind to apply, strengthen, and generalize what is learned. A case of one of the participants, developed during the training, will be chosen as the focus of consultation in the second to last module of the training. 

This course includes a remote customized 90-minute module tailored to the needs of the group that is scheduled several months after the course is conducted. It is based on responses to the knowledge test and a survey of participants’ implementation of what is learned.

The teaching methods include didactics, case examples and demonstrations, behavioral rehearsal, writing exercises, small group discussions, and consultation on participants’ questions and cases. 100% attendance and a passing score of 75% is required on a knowledge test for successful completion of the course. It is assumed that all who register for the course are willing to both provide and receive consultation on their work from the trainers and other participants. 

Prerequisites

Participants are expected to have completed comprehensive DBT training, be currently engaged in the provision of DBT services, and want to learn how to implement a DBT adolescent program. As such, the training builds on an expectation that participants are well-versed in the content of standard DBT. Specifically, participants should complete Dialectical Behavior Therapy Foundational Training or Dialectical Behavior Therapy Intensive Training before participating in this training.