Intensive Training in the DBT Prolonged Exposure Protocol for PTSD

Description

This 4-day virtual live workshop is designed to provide intensive training in how to integrate PTSD treatment into standard DBT. Participants will learn the DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE) protocol for treating PTSD, one of the newest developments in DBT research and practice. Research has shown that this protocol can be added to DBT to allow for integrated treatment of PTSD, suicidal and self-injurious behavior, and other co-occurring problems. Participants will learn how to use DBT strategies to prepare high-risk and multi-problem clients for the DBT PE protocol as well as how to determine when clients are ready to begin formal PTSD treatment. The structure and procedures of the DBT PE protocol will be taught in a session-by-session format with extensive opportunities to watch video examples and practice delivering each of the primary treatment components. Particular attention will be paid to discussing strategies for overcoming common problems that arise during PTSD treatment with high-risk and multi-problem clients as well as how to tailor the treatment to address the complex characteristics of this client population.

Learning Objectives

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the rationale for developing the DBT PE protocol.
2. Describe the evidence base supporting DBT PE.
3. Identify DBT strategies to use to prepare high-risk and multi-problem clients for DBT PE. 
4. Determine if clients are ready for formal PTSD treatment.
5. Explain the treatment rationale (i.e., how PTSD is maintained and how DBT PE works to reduce PTSD).
6. Conduct the Trauma Interview and select traumatic events to target via imaginal exposure.
7. Provide psychoeducation about common dialectical reactions to trauma.
8. Explain the rationale for using in vivo exposure to treat PTSD.
9. Develop an in vivo exposure hierarchy.
10. Explain the rationale for using imaginal exposure to treat PTSD.
11. Conduct imaginal exposure.
12. Conduct processing of imaginal exposure.
13. Describe the typical pattern of change in emotions over the course of DBT PE.
14. Determine when to pause and resume DBT PE to address higher-priority problems.
15. Address avoidance that interferes with exposure.
16. Address emotional over- and under-engagement during exposure.
17. Address stuck beliefs and emotions that interfere with reducing PTSD. 
18. Teach skills for preventing and managing a relapse of PTSD.

Who Should Attend

This advanced workshop is intended for mental health professionals who:

• Have received DBT Intensive or Foundational training (or equivalent), 
• Currently provide DBT individual therapy to adolescents or adults, and
• Agree to read the DBT PE manual prior to the training: Harned, M. S. (2022). Treating trauma in Dialectical Behavior Therapy: The DBT Prolonged Exposure protocol (DBT PE). New York, NY: Guilford Press.