DBT for Parents - A Comprehensive Training

Most clinicians receive little formal guidance on how to effectively work with parents and families. Without a structured approach, their involvement in treatment can range from peripheral to counterproductive. Yet, the research is clear: parents are not bystanders. Family transactions play a direct role in maintaining or intensifying emotional and behavioral dysregulation in adolescents and young adults. When parents are not effectively involved in treatment, even excellent individual treatment can stall.

The DBT for Parents model was developed to fill this gap.

This training offers clinicians a structured, evidence-based framework for assessing parent behaviors, understanding their impact on treatment, and intervening in targeted, effective ways — directly integrating parent work into your DBT treatment plan. This training will give you the conceptual foundation and practical tools to engage parents with clarity and confidence, directly enhancing your client's progress. You will learn how to include parent work in a variety of treatment settings.

This is a 3-part comprehensive DBT for Parents training designed for clinicians with some DBT background. No experience with parents or families necessary.

What you will learn:

1. The Case for Parent Involvement

Identify the key clinical and research- supported reasons why actively involving parents is essential in treating adolescents and young adults - and why it must be a part of the treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults. 

2. Family Transactions & Dysregulation

Understand how reciprocal family patterns can maintain or exacerbate emotional and behavioral dysregulation in youth - and how to conceptualize these dynamics from a DBT framework.

3. Parent-Focused Chain Analysis

Learn how to conduct a structured behavioral chain analysis adapted specifically for parent behaviors - enabling you to assess contributing factors, identify intervention targets, and guide treatment planning.

4. DBT Skills for Parents

Utilize key DBT-based strategies developed specifically to support and engage parents — including a hierarchy of parent-focused interventions you can apply across treatment contexts.

5. Apply DBT-Based Strategies

Learn and implement treatment strategies and skills training specifically adapted for parent work.

Training Dates:

December 4th: 11am - 5pm ET

January 11: 11am-5pm ET

February 12th: 11am-5pm ET

CEUs: 18

*Training held virtually

The Be Center - DBT for Parents