DBT Skills DEEP DIVE for OTs

ABOUT

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an essential skill set for empowering mental health clients to take their lives back and re-engage with meaningful life roles. Whether you work in inpatient or outpatient settings or offer coaching services, DBT provides a comprehensive skill set to help clients regain control of their lives. Developed by Marsha Linehan, DBT is a comprehensive, evidence-based therapeutic approach initially created to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). Over time, DBT has been adapted for a range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and substance abuse. The effectiveness of DBT has led to its widespread use in clinical practice, establishing DBT as one of the most significant advancements in mental health treatment in recent years.

The "DBT Deep Dive for OTs" is a 12-week webinar series, designed to equip occupational therapists (OTs) with DBT skills to manage and regulate emotions, improve interpersonal effectiveness, and increase distress tolerance. These skills are crucial for helping clients cope with and become effective in the challenges that impact their functional performance and engagement in meaningful daily activities, including work. The practical strategies and case examples will demonstrate how DBT can be integrated into OT interventions, facilitating meaningful change and leading to improved functional performance and quality of life.

What specific skills will participants learn in this webinar series?

OTs who complete this webinar series can expect to gain a comprehensive understanding of DBT skills and how to apply them in their practice. Participants will learn a range of DBT skills, including practical mindfulness techniques as a way to proactively reduce stress and improve mood, emotion regulation strategies to manage daily life’s challenges, distress tolerance to navigate crisis situations, and interpersonal effectiveness skills to improve communication and relationships. Additionally, the series covers chain behaviour analysis, a critical tool for understanding and modifying problematic behaviours. 

Who would benefit most from attending this webinar series?

This webinar series is ideal for occupational therapists who work with clients facing mental health challenges, whether these issues are the primary concern or secondary to physical health conditions. OTs seeking to expand their therapeutic toolkit and incorporate evidence-based DBT strategies into their practice will find this series particularly beneficial. Learning these skills will benefit occupational therapists not only professionally but also personally.

An example of how an OT might use DBT skills in a typical session

In a typical session, an OT might model mindfulness techniques from DBT to help a client stay focused during a task that they report as challenging or stressful. For instance, if a client becomes overwhelmed while planning and preparing a meal, the OT teaches them grounding techniques to stay present and manage their anxiety. Or, emotion regulation skills can be used to help a client cope with frustration or anger that arises during an activity, enabling them to complete the task successfully and build confidence in their abilities.

How does the 12-week format benefit participants?

The 12-week format allows for an in-depth exploration of DBT skills and their application to everyday occupational therapy practice. This extended timeframe provides OTs with the opportunity to learn, practice, and reflect on the skills, ensuring they are well-prepared to implement them in their practice. The format also allows for ongoing support and feedback, helping participants to refine their approach and address any challenges they encounter along the way.

Additional Resources

In addition to the core content, participants will receive notes, handouts and worksheets to accompany each skill that can be directly applied in both professional and personal contexts.

More About Me, Your Facilitator

I qualified as an occupational therapist in 2000 and have spent the past 20 years in mental health private practice. My career began with inpatients in short-term admission, private mental health facilities and later transitioned to working with outpatients who need support reintegrating into their work-lives after illness. I formally trained in DBT through the South African DBT Institute in 2018-2019, and facilitated the skills training leg of the comprehensive training in 2020 - 2021 for the Institute. DBT has provided me with an essential skill set to help clients bridge the gap between feeling ineffective and unable to being empowered to handle life’s challenges, i.e building resilience.

Through DBT, I have assisted many clients in achieving significant improvements in their emotional and behavioural responses. Specifically, DBT skills have helped clients:

1. Become less reactive to triggers due to increased grounding.

2. Experience less severe reactions by using self-awareness to apply skills early.

3. Shorten the duration of their reactions by using skills to shift gears on unwanted emotions and behaviours.

Beyond my professional practice, DBT skills have been invaluable in navigating my personal and professional challenges. I continue to learn and grow as life evolves, and DBT skills remains a vital part of my toolkit.