Class Descriptions

Basic Skills for Dialectical Behavior Therapy

SW737

Credits:	1
Prerequisites:	None

Pathway Associations

Community Change
Global
Interpersonal Practice	Elective (Host)
Mgmt & Leadership
Policy & Political
Program Evaluation
Older Adults
Children & Families

Course Description

DBT is an empirically supported treatment for individuals with severe emotionally regulation problems. Part of the treatment consists of teaching individuals specific skill sets in mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotional regulation and crisis management.
This advanced action-based learning course will focus on direct practice and implementation of dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder and other psychiatric and psychological problems. This course will cover dialectical behavioral therapy approaches to address suicidal thoughts and actions, self-harm, emotion dysregulation, behavioral dysregulation, cognitive dysregulation, and self-dysregulation. Emphasis will be given to practical application of therapy techniques and troubleshooting difficult and challenging clinical circumstances. An overview of cultural considerations for dialectical behavioral therapy will also be provided.Students will learn an overview of these skills and strategies to integrate these skills into their clinical practice in a variety of individual and group therapy settings.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

● Utilize dialectical process, validation, assumptions about clients and other DBT techniques.
● Implement mindfulness exercises and techniques for identifying emotions.
● Identify relevant behavioral concepts and apply a dialectical synthesis for client problems.
● Incorporate social work values and ethical principles in planning and implementing dialectical behavior therapy with adults and adolescents.
● Understand the strengths and limitations related to the current evidence on cultural adaptations of dialectical behavior therapy.

Design

Class format will include presentation of didactic information, case studies and vignettes, videotapes, role-plays and interactive discussions.

Intensive Focus on Privilege, Oppression, Diversity and Social Justice (PODS)

This course will support students’ developing a vision of social justice, learning to recognize and reduce mechanisms that support oppression and injustice in practice. Students will work toward strengthening critical consciousness, self-knowledge and self-awareness to facilitate PODS learning.