Using DBT Skills for Addictive Behaviors
$32.00
Addiction is a difficult and trying disease, not only for people living with addictive behaviors but for family and friends as well. DBT has been studied and used in many settings for addiction and even has its own skills module. DBT for addictive behaviors focuses on validating and accepting uncomfortable feelings rather than avoiding or working around them. Now, individual and group treatments commonly employ DBT for substance use disorders (SUD), a medical condition defined by uncontrollable use of substances despite the negative consequences. This training will be a deep dive into the module designed for addictive behaviors and how to use it in inpatient and outpatient settings.
Upon completion of the training, participants will be able to:
- Define Dialectical Abstinence
- Teach the addiction module to clients
- Assist clients with implementing in-the-moment techniques to redirect the addictive cravings
Social workers completing this course receive 2 Clinical asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 2 hours of Clinical continuing education training.
Course Instructor: Presented by Stacy Blankenship, MSW, LCSW
Recording Date: 03/27/2024
Recorded Live Webinar with downloadable presentation slides and/or handouts, evaluation, and a required quiz. The learner is required to pass with a 70% or higher to achieve the CE certificate of completion. The learner is able to reset the test until a satisfactory score is achieved. CE Training Workshops, LLC, provider #1770, 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: 8/2/2022 – 8/2/2025. CE Training Workshops, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE Training Workshops, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. System Requirements: Firefox, Chrome, Brave, Safari, Edge on any modern operating system (Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS). A desktop browser is recommended. We do not provide support resources for issues encountered using a mobile device. For more information about our policies and board approval statements, please visit our FAQS page.
Stacy Blankenship, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and an intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapist completing her training at The Linehan Institute in 2015.
Using DBT for Addictive Behaviors (2 HR) Syllabus
I. Foundations of DBT
- Brief history of DBT development
- Core principles: dialectics, validation, behavior change
- Benefits: emotional regulation, reduced impulsivity, improved relationships
II. The Four Core DBT Modules
- Mindfulness: observe, describe, participate, nonjudgment
- Distress Tolerance: ACCEPTS, self-soothing, urge surfing, pros and cons
- Emotion Regulation: identifying, understanding, and managing emotions
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: assertiveness, communication, negotiation
III. DBT-SUD (Substance Use Disorder) Overview
- Application to addiction: triggers, cravings, emotional dysregulation
- Efficacy from research: relapse prevention, comorbidity reduction
- DBT-enhanced interventions (e.g., BASICS with added DBT skills)
IV. Understanding Addictive Behaviors
- Broad definition: any repeated, harmful, compulsive coping behavior
- Examples: substance use, gambling, food, digital media, relationships
- Identifying signs of problematic behaviors
V. Structure of a DBT Addiction Program
- Required components: skills groups, diary cards, 1:1 sessions, phone coaching
- Importance of the consultation team and possible drug testing
- Commitment stage: establishing “life worth living” goals and abstinence
VI. Specialized DBT Skills for Addiction Crises
- Dialectical Abstinence: combining abstinence and harm-reduction models
- Clear Mind: balancing pride in recovery with cautious awareness
- Community Reinforcement: replacing addictive rewards with supportive networks
- Burning Bridges and Building New Ones: removing triggers, reinforcing recovery
VII. Additional DBT-Based Coping Strategies
- Alternate Rebellion: choosing healthy opposition to authority norms
- Adaptive Denial: delaying urges and self-negotiating through cravings
- TIPP skills: temperature, intense exercise, paced breathing, muscle relaxation
- Self-soothing and ACCEPTS for sensory and mindful distraction
VIII. Addressing Therapy-Interfering Behaviors
- Client behaviors: disappearing after relapse, showing up under the influence
- Legal system barriers: mandated treatment, stigmatizing language
- Therapist behaviors: skipping commitments, unclear boundaries, rule-stretching
IX. Closing Reflections and Integration
- Emphasizing the importance of validation and therapeutic connection
- Role of the consultation team in managing challenges
- Encouragement to tailor DBT principles to support recovery and autonomy
