Wednesday, January 8, 2025 From 12:00-1:00PM ET: Reach Out and Touch Online: Using Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Depressed and Suicidal Clients
Delivery: Live Virtual Interactive
Continuing Education: 1hr CE
REGISTER HERE!
Speaker: Dr. Kenyuatia Gash DSW, LCSW, BCD, MAC
Exploring: The remote delivery of services, i.e. telemental health, online therapies, teleconferencing, etc..
The emergence of telehealth in mental health services has presented new opportunities and challenges for treating severe depression and suicidal ideation. As one of the evidence-based therapies with proven effectiveness for these conditions, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has been adapted to the virtual mode of delivery with promising outcomes. DBT, originally developed by Marsha Linehan for individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder and high suicidality, employs a unique dialectical approach, striking a balance between acceptance and change.
Depression affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to various emotional and physical problems and decrease a person’s ability to function at work and home. Suicide is often the result of a complex interaction of risk and protective factors at the individual, interpersonal, community, and societal levels.
DBT's multidimensional components comprise individual therapy, group skills training, phone coaching, and therapist consultation teams. Even though these components were traditionally provided in person, the adoption of telehealth has made it possible to deliver them virtually. Individual therapy sessions, where the therapeutic alliance is formed through validation and problem-solving strategies, are conducted via secure video calls. Group skills training, covering mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, has been transitioned into online group sessions, providing clients with vital coping strategies while maintaining the supportive communal aspect of group therapy. Phone coaching, an already remote component of DBT, aligns well with telehealth. It offers real-time support, helping clients apply learned DBT skills daily. Therapist consultation teams, essential for clinician support and case discussions, can be effectively managed through virtual meetings.
The tele-mental health platform has also introduced new protocols for managing high-risk behaviors associated with severe depression and suicidality. Safety planning and chain analysis, which can be executed interactively through shared online documents, are especially vital in working with severely depressed and suicidal clients. Although telehealth comes with unique challenges, such as establishing a therapeutic alliance remotely or dealing with technical difficulties, comprehensive training in DBT delivered via telehealth can equip clinicians to overcome these barriers. Ultimately, this enables them to provide effective treatment, reducing the suffering of their clients, and enhancing overall well-being, no matter the physical distance.
DBT requires clinicians to be well-versed in its principles and techniques and to engage in ongoing supervision and consultation to provide the best care. This didactic lecture aims to equip clinicians with the necessary knowledge and skills to implement DBT effectively with severely depressed and suicidal clients, addressing the specific needs and challenges presented in the session. Through this comprehensive presentation in DBT, clinicians will be able to explore protective factors to address depression, reduce suicidal ideations and provide effective interventions for men and women who are struggling when faced with personal, occupational, or emotional distress.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Gain a basic knowledge of the fundamental principles of DBT, including its unique dialectical framework that focuses on the balance between acceptance and change, as well as its relevance in treating depressed and suicidal clients.
2. Advance their proficiency in teaching and implementing the four main DBT skills of mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, and be able to tailor these skills to address depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in clients.
3. Increase knowledge in swiftly identifying crisis situations related to severe depressive episodes and imminent risk of suicide while providing effective DBT interventions.
REGISTRATION
$25.00 for ABCSW Members
$40.00 for Non-Members
CONTINUING EDUCATION
ABCSW, #1854, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/23/2024 – 8/23/2027. Social workers completing this course receive up to 1 continuing education credit/hour.
REFUNDS & GRIEVANCES
All refund requests must be submitted to [email protected] by Monday, January 6th to be eligible for a full refund (less $5.00 admin fee).
All grievances can be sent to [email protected] at anytime.