Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) was developed by Marsha Linehan for complex mental health clients engaging in suicidal behaviour; it is the only evidence-based intervention for borderline personality disorder. More recently, DBT has been adapted for adolescent and adult populations that struggle with other disorders of emotion dysregulation, such as substance use, bipolar disorder, binge eating disorder, and other mood disorders. DBT is focused on increasing people's ability to manage and tolerate their emotions more effectively, deal with distressing situations without making them worse, and forming and sustaining healthier interpersonal relationships. It accomplishes this through a comprehensive treatment modality that is housed within a strong and genuine therapeutic relationship.
This certificate program offers an in-depth exploration of DBT's four independent, yet interconnected, modes of intervention:
- Individual therapy
- Skills training
- Coaching
- Consultation teams
This program will help you understand the functional rationale for each of these modes of intervention, as well as provide an opportunity to practice the skills through role plays and group work and begin to apply this knowledge to real world examples and case studies.
Prerequisites
An Introduction to DBT, or an approved equivalent, is a prerequisite to all other courses. These courses are advanced-level trainings that build upon the foundational knowledge introduced in the introductory course. For information about approved equivalents, please contact fswprofessionaldevelopment@wlu.ca.
Completion Requirements
To earn the DBT certificate, you must complete at least seven courses. The program is flexible – you can finish in as little as one year or take up to seven years. You do not have to be working toward the DBT certificate to take any of these courses.
Participation and Attendance
Full attendance and participation are required to complete these courses. You are required, as much as possible, to have your camera on. We know there are situations where this is not possible, so please send a message to your instructor or the Professional Development host to let them know that you are unable to turn on your camera. Our courses are interactive and include breakout rooms, role play, group discussions and other activities. Participation is required.
Four + Discount
Register for four or more courses at the same time to receive a 10% discount on each course. To qualify, you must complete registration and payment for all courses in a single transaction. The discount is non-cumulative and cannot be applied retroactively. If discount is not applied at time of registration, contact fswprofessionaldevelopment@wlu.ca for assistance before payment. Discounts cannot be applied after registration has been completed.
DBT Certification
After completing this certificate, you will not be allowed to identify yourself as a certified DBT therapist. The only approved DBT certification is through the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification. To meet the educational requirements for DBT certification -- and to help you prepare for the certification exam -- we recommend the following five courses, as well as two courses of your choice:
- Introduction to DBT
- DBT Skills Training
- DBT Assessment and Case Conceptualization
- DBT Phone Coaching and Consulting
- DBT Individual Therapy
For full details on the DBT certification process, please visit the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification website.
If you are not pursuing the DBT certification process, we recommend choosing the courses that will best support your work.
Becoming a Therapist
This DBT certificate does not qualify you for registration with any regulatory body (e.g. Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario) or to practice as a licensed therapist. To become a regulated therapist, please visit the website for the appropriate regulatory body in your province.
Delivery Options
The DBT certificate courses are available remotely through Zoom.
Registration
No application required. To register, choose a course and section to view the dates and cost. Add the course to your cart and complete payment. Please review the prerequisites above.
Contact Information
For more information about this certificate contact the Faculty of Social Work Professional Development office:
Email: fswprofessionaldevelopment@wlu.ca
Phone: 548-889-5128
See our website and Frequently Asked Questions for more information.