‌

DBT Foundational for Adolescents and Families

Transform adolescent care with DBT: An online training course for clinicians working in a DBT team

Three people are seated on a couch in a well-lit room. One person, a male with curly hair, is speaking and gesturing with his hands. The other two individuals, one male and one female, are listening attentively. The female is holding a notebook and pencil

About the course

Start date
Start anytime
Length
12 Months Access
Who this course is for
For Mental Health Professionals
Accreditation
35 CE / CME CreditsSee all accreditation details
Organization Enquiries
Find out more

Today’s adolescents face more opportunities, and more pressures, than ever. Many struggle with loneliness, anxiety, depression, and self-harm, leaving clinicians and parents feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to help.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Adolescents, developed by Alec Miller and Jill Rathus, is the only well-established, evidence-based treatment for youth with multiple problems and self-harming behaviors.

In this DBT Foundational Training, the developers themselves, Alec Miller and Jill Rathus, guide clinicians working within DBT teams through the core principles and clinical strategies that go beyond what can be learned from the manuals alone.

You’ll see ample clinical demonstrations of the six modalities in this model, including:

  • Individual therapy

  • Family therapy

  • Skills training

  • Inter-session coaching for teens and parents

  • Therapist consultation team

  • Parent sessions

By providing a comprehensive, 360-degree view of treatment, you’ll be immersed in the therapy room and see how the various components of DBT integrate to produce powerful, synergistic effects.

DBT Foundational for Adolescents and Families
Includes free e-books
Valued $105
DBT Skills Manual for Adolescents
Dialectical Behavior Therapy with Suicidal Adolescents
$1690
Enroll now
Meet Your Course Presenters

This course is led by the clinical developers of DBT for adolescents:

  • Alec Miller- co-developer of DBT for adolescents and the DBT Skills in Schools program

  • Jill Rathus - co-developer of DBT for adolescents and DBT Skills in Schools

Featuring Dr. Marsha Linehan and Leading DBT Experts: Founder of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Dr. Linehan shares key insights alongside other leading DBT experts on the comprehensive treatment model created for adolescents and families. With deep knowledge of DBT, adolescent treatment, and family dynamics, they bring you training grounded in research, real-world clinical insight, and compassionate care.

Alec Miller and Jill Rathus
How This Training Helps You in Practice

This course equips you with the practical skills and clinical strategies needed to deliver DBT effectively with adolescents and their families. You’ll be introduced to core DBT theory and principles while following the therapeutic progression from pre-treatment to termination with a diverse range of complex adolescent clients and their caregivers. You’ll also learn how to participate in an effective therapist consultation team, building collaboration, sustaining motivation, and ensuring the highest quality of care.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:

  • Identify which adolescent populations benefit most from DBT

  • Explain key elements of the Biosocial Theory and their role in emotion dysregulation

  • Use commitment strategies to strengthen motivation in pre-treatment

  • Apply DBT tools such as adolescent diary cards, chain analyses, and solution analyses

  • Build safety with suicide prevention planning tailored for teens and families

  • Strengthen your practice with core DBT strategies including problem-solving, validation, and family therapy interventions

  • Understand the structure of the DBT Consultation Team and the Walking the Middle Path Skills Module

This training gives you the confidence to navigate complex cases, engage families effectively, and deliver DBT with precision and compassion.

therapy demonstration with Jill Rathus
Program Format

Your learning experience is carefully crafted to guide you through the comprehensive DBT model, emphasizing hands-on application every step of the way. 

This training includes:

  • Flexible start — begin anytime once eligibility is approved (usually within 2 business days)

  • Self-directed — move through the course at your own pace

  • 14-part structure — Step-by-step program to support steady progress

  • 12 months access — Return to modules, refresh knowledge, and rewatch demonstrations whenever it suits you

Is This Program Right for You?

This Foundational Training is designed for clinicians who are part of a DBT team with at least one intensively trained member, and is a key element of your pathway to DBT certification.

To participate, clinicians should:

  • Work in an active DBT program and take part in a DBT consultation team that meets weekly.

  • Have access to an intensively trained mentor, either within their team or externally, to provide guidance and support while learning and applying DBT.

We invite you to join us in this comprehensive learning experience inspired by DBT Founder, Marsha Linehan.

If you would like to request an invoice, please fill out the form here.

Illustration of young man, with diary card and phone coaching text

Course Overview

Course excerpts

 

Your Pathway to Certification

This training aligns with the foundational requirements of the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, providing preparation that supports future steps in Linehan DBT certification by:

  • Providing comprehensive foundational education

  • Supporting team-based model implementation

  • Reinforcing adherence to Linehan DBT standards

This program is also approved for 35 CE/CME credits (view the complete CE/CME accreditation details).

Frequently asked questions

View all FAQs

You might also be interested in

‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
See All DBT Training