Beyond the Basics: Advanced Clinical Application of DBT Strategies and Skills Training 27-28/11/2025

Please note that this is a LIVE workshop, given online over 2 days. This workshop is approved for 12 hours of continuing education by the OPQ ( RA07207-25 ). Early registration rate, $600 + taxes, ends October 24th, 2025.   Regular fee: 660 + taxes. Students receive a $60 discount on those prices.

*  Included in the purchase, 6 hour recorded workshop (Introduction to DBT held live in April 2025). Accessible immediately *
** Places are limited to 30 participants**

REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
Please save this website as well as your login information. The pre-recorded introduction is accessible right away. The live portion of the workshop, zoom link and documents are accessible on this platform. Handouts will become available
November 21st, 2025.

PAYMENT OPTIONS
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Click the PayPal button, then select the "Pay with debit or credit card" option and use your credit card as usual.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
"Beyond the Basics: Advanced Clinical Application of DBT Strategies and Skills Training" is a two-day workshop designed for clinicians who have completed foundational training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and wish to enhance their clinical effectiveness through advanced strategies. This workshop explores in depth the critical components of pre-treatment, therapist commitment strategies, individual session structure, and treatment-interfering behaviors: key areas where even experienced DBT clinicians can deepen their practice.

Participants will revisit core elements of the DBT model through a more nuanced lens, focusing on applying dialectical techniques and stylistic interventions to navigate clinical ruptures, enhance client motivation, and strengthen the therapeutic alliance. Real-world challenges, such as managing therapist and client treatment-interfering behaviors and applying DBT’s contingency management protocols, will be explored using clinical case material and structured exercises. The workshop emphasizes the use of commitment strategies, storytelling, irreverence, and metaphor in advancing client engagement and sustaining change. This training is ideal for clinicians seeking to fine-tune their DBT delivery and expand their intervention repertoire.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Structure the first four sessions of DBT pre-treatment and orient clients to the "life worth living" philosophy.
Apply commitment-enhancing strategies to improve client engagement and willingness.
Use dialectical and stylistic interventions to manage session ruptures and reinforce therapeutic balance.
Identify and address treatment-interfering behaviors using DBT’s behavioral and contingency management protocols.

DAY 1: Pre-Treatment and Commitment Strategies in DBT

Session 1: Foundations of Pre-Treatment (the first 4 sessions)
Setting up the DBT treatment framework (Linehan, 1993)
The therapist-client agreement and assessing client fit (Swales & Heard, 2009)
Session 2: The “Life Worth Living” Conversation
Using values clarification to guide treatment goals (Linehan, 1993; Swenson, 2016)
Session 3: Commitment and Willingness
Techniques for increasing commitment and motivation (Koerner, 2012; Swenson, 2016)
Use of dialectics and irreverence to address client ambivalence (Linehan, 1993)

DAY 2: Navigating Sessions, Behaviors, and Dialectics

Session 4: DBT Therapy – Structure and Modes
Core session structure and goals (Linehan, 1993b)
Ensuring skills, phone coaching, and consult team are in place
Session 5: Treatment-Interfering Behaviors
Behavioral analysis of therapist and client behaviors (Linehan, 2015; Chapman & Rosenthal, 2015)
Intervention planning to address therapy-interfering patterns (Swales & Heard, 2009)
Session 6: Contingency Management in DBT
Principles of reinforcement and behavior shaping (Linehan, 1993)
Avoiding inadvertent reinforcement of ineffective behaviors (Koerner, 2012)
Integrating diary cards and chain analysis (Rizvi, 2019)

SPEAKER
Dr. Anita Federici is a Clinical Psychologist and the Owner of The Centre for Psychology and Emotion Regulation. She serves an Adjunct Faculty position at York University and is a distinguished Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED). Dr. Federici has served as the elected Co-Chair for the Suicide and DBT Special Interest Group for the Academy for Eating Disorders and currently sits on the DBT Special Interest Group Oversight Committee. She has had a considerable impact on the field through her leadership, advocacy work, and expertise. To date, she has provided 400 lectures, workshops, and invited talks on eating disorders, DBT, and MED-DBT. Known for her engaging and authentic style of training, she is a highly sought-after clinical consultant and supervisor. She also works extensively with hospitals and community organizations nationally and internationally offering team training, implementation support, and program development with a special focus on creating differential care pathways for clients and patients who do not respond to traditional treatment approaches. Her work has been presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals and invited book chapters. She is currently co-authoring the MED-DBT treatment manual through Guilford Press.

 
TAX INFORMATION
Medipsy is recognized by Revenu Quebec as an educational institution making our courses tax-deductible. Our accreditation number is 16-07-3871

The registration fee includes all applicable taxes.
Our GST number is 82873 880 RT0001
Our PST number is 1218616310


For any questions, please message us here or email info@medipsy.ca