0505 - Working with Diverse Populations: DBT as a Principle-Based Intervention

Course Description

Hours: 12

Individuals with marginalized identities (e.g. people who are racialized, neurodivergent, of gender or sexual minority status) often experience the unique pain of discrimination and prejudice in addition to their pervasive emotional and behavioural dysregulation. Their invalidation can be compounded in the mental health space, including when therapists do not recognize their own biases and don’t practice from a place of humility. This training will explore how to assess, validate and address the trauma of discrimination, the impact of safety behaviours (e.g. masking, self-management), the role of environmental intervention, and the need for adapted skills.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this Professional Development course participants will be able to: 

• Incorporate the rationale for anti-oppressive practice and intersectionality in the practice of DBT. 
• Assess the impact of experiences of marginalization, prejudice, discrimination, etc. and integrate this into case conceptualization.
• Help clients set goals that are personally meaningful and incorporate their own values rather than developing goals based on the expectations of the dominant population.
• Identify barriers to care including communication, sensory, medical needs, and intervene in the environment if required.
• Integrate examples of marginalization into teaching and adapting skills, especially skills aimed at addressing discrimination and strengthening self-advocacy.

Notes

For more information contact the Faculty of Social Work Professional Development office:

Email: fswprofessionaldevelopment@wlu.ca
Phone: 548-889-5128 

Cancellations and Transfers
Be sure to carefully review our cancellation and transfer information before registering.

Website: wlu.ca/fswpd

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

• Advanced Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) : Advanced DBT