DBT in a Nutshell for Adolescents and Caregivers

October 16-17, 2025
7:00am – 2:30pm Pacific Time
10:00am – 5:30pm Eastern Time

Presented via Zoom Video Communications

PRESENTED BY

Tali Wigod, PsyD

DBT-Linehan Board of Certification Certified Clinician™

Register Now


COURSE DESCRIPTION

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a highly efficacious treatment developed by Marsha M. Linehan, PhD for multi-diagnostic, severely disordered individuals with borderline personality disorder and other problems of emotion dysregulation. DBT has been adapted (Rathus & Miller, 2014) to treat adolescents struggling with self-harm and suicidal behaviors, as well as their families. Numerous studies now demonstrate that DBT for adolescents is efficacious at reducing suicidal and non-suicidal self-harm behaviors and improving quality of life. DBT for adolescents is particularly important as a secondary prevention intervention, as a significant number of adolescents admitted to inpatients units meet criterion behaviors for borderline personality (50%, Kaess, Brunner, & Chanen, 2014).

This two-day training will provide an overview of DBT with a special emphasis on the adaptation of DBT for adolescents and their families.

Topics covered will include:

  • Overview of the DBT treatment structure and targets when treating adolescents and families.
  • The use of validation and behavior targeting with adolescents and families.
  • DBT stylistic strategies for use with adolescents and families.
  • A “big picture” overview of the adapted DBT skills set for adolescents and families.

If you are looking specifically for DBT-A Skills training, please click here.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this two-day workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the 4 modes of DBT and the 3 levels of the treatment hierarchy
2. Use a DBT diary card to create a treatment hierarchy for an adolescent client
3. Identify 4 commitment strategies
4. Describe the “bio” and “social” elements of the biosocial theory
5. Label the 6 levels of validation used in DBT
6. Identify 4 change procedures used in DBT

PREREQUISITESDBT Skills Manual for Adolescents

There are no prerequisites for this course. For maximal impact, we encourage learners to bring copies of Rathus and Miller’s (2014) DBT Skills Manual for Adolescents

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

This course is designed for mental health professionals with or without familiarity with DBT who work with adolescents and their families and are interested in learning strategies to treat individuals with severe emotion dysregulation.

DELIVERY METHOD

We will apply highly engaging instructional strategies, along with audience participation, to bring the teaching to life.

CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS

Participants who complete both training days will earn 12 CE hours.

Portland DBT Institute has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6326.
Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Portland DBT Institute is solely is responsible for all aspects of the programs.

PRICING

Individual Registration Fee
$359.00
Group Registration Fee for 3 or more
$335.00 per person
Students are eligible for 15% off individual registration fee*

*email training@pdbti.org for student discount code

Register Now


Private Training Requests

Portland DBT Institute training is available to schedule as a private training for your group. PDBTI’s training team travels locally, nationally, and internationally, to provide evidence based, adherent DBT training. Please fill out our Training Request Form and a training coordinator will contact you to see how we can work together to exceed your organization’s training goals.

Private Training Request


CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS

A $60.00 handling fee will be deducted upon cancellation. Refund requests by fax or email must be received two weeks before the start date. In addition, the fees are non-transferrable.

PDBTI reserves the right to cancel any program due to under-enrollment, or any course due to work stoppages, instructor illness or inclement weather. If a course is cancelled, PDBTI is responsible for refunding only the course fee.

DBT Training Calendar

(Free CE Hour) Treating PTSD in Dialectical Behavior Therapy: The DBT Prolonged Exposure Protocol
July 9, 2025
Melanie Harned, PhD, ABPP, DBT-LBC


(EXCLUSIVE) DBT and Chronic Pain: A Dialectical Workshop on Treating Sensory Dysregulation
July 11, 2025
Deborah Barrett, PhD, LCSW


(EXCLUSIVE) Incorporating Loved Ones into DBT Treatment: Strategies and Skills for Effective Sessions and Enhanced Relationships
July 18, 2025
Tali Wigod, PsyD, DBT-LBC


(EXCLUSIVE) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Moral Injury (ACT-MI): An Experiential Approach to Exploring Meaning while Holding Moral Pain
July 25, 2025
Lauren M. Borges, PhD
Jacob K. Farnsworth, PhD


(Free CE Hour) How to Think Like an Adherence Coder: The DBT AC-I in Practice
August 13, 2025
Sara Schmidt, PhD, DBT-LBC


DBT in a Nutshell: Treating Multi-Diagnostic, Complex Individuals
August 21-22, 2025
Jason Fritts, LCSW, DBT-LBC


DBT for People with Substance Use Disorders
September 11-12, 2025
Dorian Hunter, PhD, DBT-LBC


(Intensive Training) DBT CITI Part I
October 6-8 & 14-15, 2025
Andrew White, PhD, ABPP, DBT-LBC
Ashley Maliken, PhD, DBT-LBC


DBT in a Nutshell for Adolescents and Caregivers
October 16-17, 2025
Tali Wigod, PsyD, DBT-LBC


Maximizing Individual Therapy in DBT: Moving Beyond Life Threatening Behavior
October 30-31, 2025
Leah Smart-Gordon, LCSW, DBT-LBC


Diving into DBT Skills
November 6-7, 2025
Jason Fritts, LCSW, DBT-LBC


Ethics, Boundaries of Competence, Avoiding Harm, and Risk Management: Working Well with the Suicidal Patient
December 5, 2025
Andrew White, PhD, ABPP, DBT-LBC


(EXCLUSIVE) Dialectics can be Challenging and Freeing: Tools for Teaching and Applying Dialectics
December 12, 2025
Andrea Gold, PhD
Jesse Finkelstein, PsyD


See More

News & Updates

Get Started With Us

Considering therapy at Portland DBT Institute?

Click below to get started.

Get Started

DBT-LBC Certified Clinicians

We are proud to have clinicians certified by the Linehan Board of Certification, the most stringent certification available regarding the practice of DBT.

Learn More

Join Our Mailing List!

You’ll get updates on trainings and special events, as well as discounts and early registrations only for our subscribers.

Subscribe!