SUICIDE & ADVANCED DBT TOPICS

This class is a required final semester seminar for students enrolled in the CSSW DBT Intensive Training Program and not open to students outside that program. It is designed to synthesize, confirm and reinforce prior learning in DBT and general CBT, ensuring that program graduates are prepared for clinical work with client populations exhibiting a range of behavioral dysfunctions from mild problems in living that may benefit from DBT skills training to severe and complex disorders, including suicidal behaviors that require comprehensive DBT. Particularly at the severe and complex end of the spectrum, it is critically important that students understand and are prepared to conduct competent individual DBT sessions, structured with fidelity and incorporating DBT strategies as needed in a principle-based treatment.  Further, it is expected that students are familiar and facile with the use of DBT protocols when faced with crisis and suicidal behaviors. It is understood that students enter this semester with varying levels of competence and experience in these protocols based on their internship sites and that ongoing individual assessment between the student and instructor will play a major role in this class. Professional development and personal practice development are an integral part of all these activities: goals and activities will be individually assigned.