Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) Training

Training Dates

Day 1 - April 9, 2026,  9:00AM to 12:00 PM (PST)

Day 2 - April 14, 2026, 9:00AM to 12:00 PM (PST)

Training Description

This workshop equips clinicians and youth-serving professionals to teach Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills to adolescents and their caregivers. Grounded in a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach, the training covers core DBT principles and practical strategies to help youth manage intense emotions, reduce high-risk behaviors, and strengthen communication and self-efficacy. 

Emphasis is placed on the DBT skills modules—Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Middle Path skills. The workshop also addresses common adolescent/caregiver dialectical dilemmas and offers tools for engaging families in an acceptance and change approach that supports healthier coping and long-term resilience.

Learning Objectives

1. Recognize the principles and benefits of DBT-A to strengthen clinical practice and outcomes.
2. Apply structured DBT frameworks and clinical strategies to treat adolescents with complex presentations such as overwhelming emotions, self-harm, suicidal ideation, risky behaviors, and co-occurring diagnoses. 
3. Explore a values-based life worth living to enhance client safety, engagement, and participation in treatment.
4. Identify at least three ways they will integrate the core DBT-A principles into clinical practice with adolescent clients to improve outcomes.
5. Apply the four-part, structured DBT framework to more effectively treat adolescents with complex presentations, such as overwhelming emotions, self-harm, suicidal ideation, risky behaviors, and co-occurring diagnoses. 
6. Develop and apply a values-based life worth living intervention with adolescent clients to enhance client safety, engagement, and participation in treatment. 

Upon completing the live virtual training, you will receive a Certificate of Attendance for attending the training.