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 builds upon comprehensive DBT by adapting the standard principles and strategies for adolescents. Behavioral health and clinical staff will understand how to support young people in managing intense emotions and behaviors through an acceptance and change-based approach. Emphasis will be placed on the unique dialectical dilemmas faced by adolescents and caretakers. Attendees will be able to teach the key DBT skill modules of mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation, along with the DBT-A specific Middle Path skills. Additionally. participants will be able to manage youth-specific challenges and engage clients and families in a dialectical approach to reduce self-harm, improve outcomes, foster healthier coping skills, and build a life worth living.

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. Employ dialectical strategies to support staff, adolescents’, and families’ ability to accept emotional and behavioral challenges and foster positive change.
4. Explore a values-based life worth living to enhance client safety, engagement, and participation in treatment.
5. Apply validation and problem-solving tools to guide client progress and goal achievement.
6. Explore mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills to enhance client stability and flexibility.
7. Understand how to support youth in effectively understanding, navigating, and coping with emotional sensitivity and build healthy relationships.
8. Apply the Middle Path skills to help decrease conflict between family members.
9. Utilize practical, hands-on DBT-A exercises that adolescents, caregivers, and staff can readily apply.   

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