DBT Boot Camp

Advanced Topics in DBT

 “Moving Beyond the Basics”

One of the major commitments DBT providers commit to is to make every effort to increase their effectiveness in applying DBT.  They are committed to adherence and continued learning of DBT as well.  It is imperative that DBT programs have the ability to send experienced DBT team members to training to fulfill this function.  This training is designed to do exactly that, to dive deeper into topics that will enhance the DBT clinician’s knowledge and application with difficult-to-treat clientele.  Through hours of session reviews and consultation calls the trainer, Josh Smith, LMSW, has listened to and provided, he has identified specific areas most clinicians need more training and guidance with.  Attendees of this training can expect a balance of lecture, case examples, role plays and small group discussions in order to enhance their learning and dissemination of adherent DBT.  In order to register for this training, you must have already completed the 5-Day Comprehensive or Core DBT Training.
 
Topics Covered:
  • Incorporating Zen and Mindfulness in treating individuals with emotion dysregulation disorder

    • ​The foundation of acceptance in DBT
    • Bridging the gap between Behavioral Therapy and Zen practice
    • New targets Zen provides the DBT therapist and client
    • How does Zen practice guide the teaching of mindfulness and reality acceptance skills?
  • Effective ways to help clients generalize DBT skill

    • ​The most overlooked and underutilized function in DBT
    • How changes in technology pose potential for effective skill generalization and heightens risk
    • Guidelines to follow when delivering DBT skills coaching effectively
  • Overcoming challenges with difficult-to-treat clients through the use of dialectics and dialectical strategies

    • Overview of dialectics and what principles of dialectics that are used in DBT
    • Using the question, “What is left out?” and dialectical strategies to facilitate movement towards change
    • The use of dialectical strategies in several other evidence-based treatments
  • Using theory to guide clinicians in developing a DBT case formulation

    • Using the Biosocial Theory of BPD, Behavioral Theories of Change and Secondary Targets to help generate a hypothesis into what is driving the client’s target relevant behavior
    • Assisting the therapist and client in determining what specific interventions to use in treatment as well as means to determine the effectiveness of the interventions
  • Conducting an effective behavioral chain analysis

    • Common errors DBT therapists make when conducting a BCA and ways to overcome them
    • What makes all the difference in the world when trying to increase collaboration and decrease the difficulty while conducting BCAs
    • Generating meaningful homework from the BCA and solution analysis
  • Practical issues in the application of emotion regulation in DBT

    • Emotion regulation involves a number of steps DBT therapists need to help clients with while coaching them through behavioral rehearsal
    • Moving clients beyond simply tolerating distress and into effective ways to strengthen a client’s ability to regulate emotions
    • Avoiding the pitfall of clients over-relying on distress tolerance at the expense of emotion regulation
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Date

Sep 10 2026

Location

DBT Institute of Michigan-Headquarters
2950 W. Howell Road Mason, MI 48854 (Corner of Howell and Dart Rd)
  • Fee
    • Early Bird (30 days before) $475
    • Standard $550
  • Daily Agenda
    • 8:30am – 9:00am – Registration and Coffee
    • 9:00am – 12:00pm – Morning Session
    • 12:00pm – 1:00pm – Lunch Break (provided)
    • 1:00pm – 4:00pm – Afternoon Session
    • 4:00pm – Adjourn
  • Target Audience and Practice Level

    This training is specifically targeted to Intermediate (individuals with a year or more experience in mental health treatment) and Advanced level social workers, counselors, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, psychiatrists, case managers and nurses.

  • Lodging Options

    These hotels are the closest to our headquarters, the intersection has a variety of hotels to choose from:

    • Comfort Inn Okemos
    • Courtyard Marriott Okemos
    • Hampton Inn Okemos
    • Holiday Inn Express & Suites Okemos-University Area
  • Additional Info

    This training has been approved for continuing education credits by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), 400 South Ridge Parkway, Suite B, Culpeper, VA 22701. www.aswb.org.  Social Workers will earn 18 CEUs for the successful completion of this course.  No partial credits will be awarded.  To earn the allotted CEUs, Social Workers will need to be in full attendance.  For all other professions, please check with your individual board to seek approval for CEUs regarding this event.