Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Innovative New Treatment for

Dialectical Behavior Therapy:  Innovative New Treatment for

Those with Severe Mental Disorders, Important Resource for Us All

http://www.creativebalance.com

Presenters:  Libba Carpenter Wells, MSN, RN, CS, an advanced practice psychiatric nurse, and Jim Wells, MD, a psychiatrist, are both Certified Imago Relationship Therapists.  They live and have their practice, Center for Creative Balance, on ten acres of land in the beautiful countryside of North Carolina, their home state in the United States.

Brief Workshop Description:  Through teaching, demonstration, PowerPoint slides, handouts, and discussion, we will present Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, as a treatment option for those with severe forms of mental disturbance such as borderline personality.  We will share at least two skills from each of the skills modules taught in DBT:  mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance.  We believe that these skills are a resource for us as therapists in maintaining balance in our own lives and for most of the clients with whom we work.  Finally, we will share how we use mindfulness and other skills in our work with couples, particularly those with early wounding.   Our intention will be to share our experiences and thoughts and then to invite discussion among all participants.

Equipment Needed:  Flip Chart, pens, microphones.  Jim will bring his PowerPoint slides with LCD Projector. 

Books to Order (for participants to possibly buy):

1. Linehan, Marsha M. (1993).  Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment  of Borderline Personality Disorder.  Guilford Press.

2. Linehan, Marsha M. (1993).  Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder.  Guilford Press.

3. Baucom, Donald H. & Norman Epstein. (2002). Enhanced Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Couples: A Contextual Approach.