0506 - Introduction to Family-Based DBT

Course Description

Hours: 12

Working with children, teens and families can present unique challenges that require a broadening of DBT skills. Drs. Alan and Armida Fruzzetti have expanded, tested and adapted DBT strategies for use with parents and caregivers of clients of all ages. They have also developed a program to specifically support exquisitely sensitive preadolescents (under the age of 12). In this training, didactics, role plays, and exercises will be used to demonstrate:

1. Individual and family DBT skills adapted for parents.
2. Developmentally-appropriate adapted DBT skills for children.
3. Family interventions to reduce severe dysfunctional individual behaviour.
4. Additional interventions to improve family relationships and decrease family conflict and distress

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

• Use the transactional model to conceptualize client-family transactions, namely emotion dysregulation and chaos in families.
• Target parents in the context of the DBT treatment hierarchies.
• Conduct DBT family sessions including managing dysregulated family members.
• Conduct “double chains” (i.e. chain analyses with two or more family members simultaneously) to understand how family transactions evolve and contribute to problem behaviours.
• Adapt DBT skills to preadolescent children.
• Utilize the double chain to weave in traditional and new skills as solutions, including: accurate expression and validating responses; relationship mindfulness; and collaborative problem-solving*.

*Collaborative problem solving referenced in DBT for families is not the same as the evidenced-based intervention named Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) by Greene and Ablon.

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