DBT for Substance Use Disorders - July 2013

Auckland.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), developed by Marsha M. Linehan, Ph.D., ABPP, at the University of Washington, is a comprehensive cognitive-behavioural treatment for clients with pervasive emotion regulation difficulties. Research has shown DBT to reduce suicidal behaviour, dropout from treatment, and psychiatric hospitalisations. DBT treats clients who have intense, out of control emotions, usually anger, shame, guilt, sadness, anxiety and depression. The modes of treatment in comprehensive outpatient DBT are: 1) skills training where clients learn new behaviours in mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotion regulation; 2) individual psychotherapy; 3) telephone consultation; 4) structuring the client’s environment and 5) the therapists’ consultation team.

This two-day training presents an overview of DBT for Substance Use Disorders (DBT-SUD). Participants will learn how cognitive-behavioural strategies are blended with acceptance and mindfulness approaches to help clients who have multiple serious, chronic mental health problems in addition to substance use disorders.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe major findings from research on DBT for clients with substance use disorders
2. List three principles to consider in determining for whom DBT-SUD is appropriate
3. Describe the strategies used in the first sessions of DBT-SUD
4. Define Dialectical Abstinence in DBT with clients with substance use disorders
5. List at least three specific treatment targets for substance use clients with Borderline Personality Disorder
6. Define how DBT-SUD uses chain and task analyses to move clients with substance use disorders toward their goals
7. Describe at least two skills added for clients with substance use disorders
8. List two attachment strategies
9. Describe at least two principles relevant to involving families in DBT with substance use disorders

Training Level

The training will be pitched at an intermediate level, assuming participants will have attended a two-day or more DBT training OR will have familiarised themselves with the foundations of DBT by reading a recognised DBT text by authors who are or have been significantly affiliated with Behavioral Tech (e.g. Linehan, Koerner, Dimeff, Swales as below)

• Linehan MM (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. New York: Guilford.
• Dimeff LA, Koerner K (eds.) (2007). Dialectical behavior therapy in clinical practice. New York: Guilford.
• Swales MA, Heard HL (2009). Dialectical behavior therapy. London: Routledge.
• Koerner K (2011). Doing dialectical behavior therapy. New York: Guilford Press.

Those of you who have attended longer DBT trainings (i.e. of more than 2 days’ duration, including intensives) should expect that your knowledge of DBT per se will not be improved although hopefully you will learn more about the application of DBT to substance use disorders.

• Registrations are confirmed only when payment is received by credit card (with Paypal), electronically or by cheque.
• Payment must be made before the training. By registering you accept liability for the costs of the training.
• Cancellations must be notified to us by email (or the website contact form) with full identifying information.
• Cancellations received more than seven days before the event will receive a refund of the fees paid less an administration charge of $50 (for each event).
• Refunds cannot be given after that date. Refunds will not be available until after the event.
• A colleague may be substituted for no extra charge if we are notified at least two business days before the training event.
• In the unlikely event the training is cancelled by the organisers, registration will be fully refunded but no liability will be accepted for travel, accommodation or other costs/expenses incurred to registrants.