Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

Counsellor and patient in a counselling session

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a treatment originally designed to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). In recent years it has been increasingly used to treat many other disorders because of its usefulness in treating clients unable to manage emotions.

Following an introduction to DBT theory and how this treatment differs from traditional cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), the course instructor, Sheri Van Dijk, discusses how DBT can be applied to working with clients facing a broad range of conditions such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, in which emotion dysregulation plays a key role.

Through lecture and experiential exercises, students explore the four modules of DBT skills (Core Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness) and learn how to teach these skills to clients. Students are also taught how to format DBT sessions to provide the structure their dysregulated clients need.


The StrongerBC future skills grant (FSG) is here to help you pursue the future you want. The grant will cover up to $3,500 of eligible costs for your short-term skills training at public universities and colleges in BC.

This course is eligible for FSG funding in semesters when the FSG is available. To confirm if funding is available at this time, and for information on how to apply for funding please access the StrongerBC future skills grant web page.


This course is being delivered virtually with live instruction and interaction.

Learning Outcomes

  • Teach clients four sets of DBT skills to endure crisis situations and manage their emotions more effectively
  • Dialectical strategies to address clients who are "stuck" in therapy
  • Applications of DBT skills to a range of psychiatric illnesses
  • Useful tools e.g. Tracking Sheet & Behavioural Analysis to increase structure in sessions and help clients move towards change
  • Behaviour Theory techniques to help clients understand what might be maintaining their problem behaviours
  • Skills to help improve personal efficacy in therapy and reduce the likelihood of therapist burnout
Location:
Virtual Classroom
  • Two Wednesdays and Fridays
  • 8:30am - 12:00pm PST
Instructor: Price:
$500.00

Course Requirements

Students must have a computer with webcam in order to attend class and participate in exercises and knowledge checks. Students are also required to attend at least 90% of the time.

Details

Course Cancellations

Please note that courses may be cancelled at any time due to low enrolment. Upon cancellation, registrants will receive a full refund.