Upcoming Trainings
At Portland DBT Institute, we are consistently tailoring our training courses to meet the needs of the DBT community. Outlined below are our upcoming trainings. At this time, all of our trainings are held over Zoom video communications.
It is important to us to reduce the disparity in accessing mental health treatment among racial and ethnic minority, sexual and gender minority, low-income, and other underserved populations. We are all working together to improve public health and wellbeing. If you are in need of financial assistance in order to attend a training, we would love for you to fill out a scholarship application.

December 7-8, 2023 | 8:30am – 4:00pm PT
DBT in a Nutshell: Treating Multi-Diagnostic, Complex Individuals
with Pam Buck, PhD, DBT-LBC
This training is designed for mental health professionals and other providers new to DBT principles and strategies, and who work with individuals with chronic emotion dysregulation and complex problems.


December 15, 2023 | 8:30am – 3:30pm PT
EXCLUSIVE One-Day Training!
Evidence Based Practices for Adolescents with ADHD and co-occurring High Risk Behaviors
with Lauren M. Haack, PhD
This one-day workshop will include an overview of select EBP strategies for adolescents with ADHD, including psychoeducation on adult-teen interaction styles, Organizational Skills Training, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, and self-care strategies.
January 12, 2024 | 8:30am – 12:00pm PT
EXCLUSIVE Half-Day Training!
Let’s Continue to Listen to Our Youth: Strategies to Engage Black Youth in Mental Health Care
with Aijah K. B. Goodwin, PhD
Clinicians will reflect on their mental health engagement techniques and learn to understand, center, and utilize the generational, cultural, and systemic preferences of Black youth in mental health accessibility, intakes, and therapy engagement.


January 25-26, 2024 | 7:00am – 2:30pm PT
Diving into DBT Skills
with Leah Smart-Gordon, LCSW, DBT-LBC
This training is an ideal follow-up to DBT in a Nutshell, or for providers who have familiarity with the fundamentals of DBT. This two-day training will provide an overview of DBT skills aiming to support attendees in enhancing their clinical repertoire and understanding the role of skills within comprehensive DBT.
February 2, 2024 | 8:30am – 3:30pm PT
DBT for Psychosis
with Maggie Mullen, LCSW, DBT-LBC
By examining the existing research and best practices, we will explore DBT and DBT-informed concepts and principles that benefit clients with Psychotic Spectrum Disorders. Along the way, we will discuss barriers to providing effective treatment with this population.


February 23, 2024 | 8:00am – 3:00pm PT
EXCLUSIVE One-Day Training!
Evidence-Based and Family-Focused Practices in the Treatment of Adolescent Substance Abuse
with Cindy Schaeffer, PhD
This training will emphasize family-focused interventions that empower parents and caregivers to take an active role in their young person’s care and address the caregiver practices and family/household dynamics that may contribute to adolescent substance use.
February 28-29, 2024 | 8:30am – 4:00pm PT
DBT in a Nutshell for Adolescents and Caregivers
with Ashley Maliken, PhD, DBT-LBC
This training is designed for mental health professionals and other providers new to DBT principles and strategies, and who work with adolescents with chronic emotion dysregulation and complex problems.


April 12, 2024 | 8:00am – 3:30pm PT
EXCLUSIVE One-Day Training!
Maximizing Your Therapeutic Toolbox: An Intro to the Unified Protocol for Adolescents
with Niza Tonarely-Busto, PhD
This one-day introductory workshop will review in detail the Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents, including therapy techniques and strategies to maximize your therapeutic toolbox.
About Us
Our trainings offer a full orientation to DBT, from basics to advanced courses developed to help DBT-savvy clinicians further hone their skills. All members of our training team have completed the highest levels of training.
Our enthusiastic and knowledgeable trainers balance decades of experience with enthusiasm for the latest research. For a list of our standard training offerings, please see our DBT Trainings page and our CBT Trainings page.
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.
Portland DBT Institute is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements. The ACEP solely is responsible for all aspects of the program.
Past Trainings

November 3, 2023 | 8:30am – 11:30am PT
NEW 3-Hour Training!
Avoiding Board Complaints
and you may get a board complaint
with Andrew White, PhD, ABPP, DBT-LBC
Using a conceptual framework by Linehan and other emotion regulation theorists we will find the balance between avoiding complaints and accepting that they may occur while identifying behavioral specific steps to address these issues.
October 26-27, 2023 | 8:30am – 4:00pm PT
DBT in a Nutshell for Adolescents and Caregivers
with Erica Tan, PsyD, DBT-LBC
This training is recommended for providers working with teens and young adults who experience chronic emotion dysregulation and complex problems. This two-day training is ideal for providers new to DBT principles and strategies, and will cover the fundamentals of comprehensive DBT for adolescents.


September 22, 2023 | 8:30am – 4:00pm PT
Working Well with the Suicidal Patient
Ethics, Boundaries of Competence, Avoiding Harm, and Risk Management
with Andrew White, PhD, ABPP, DBT-LBC
This one day workshop is designed for mental health providers and other healthcare professionals who provide direct-care services and, as a result, will be required to assess and manage a suicide crisis at some point during their professional career.