Foundation Professional Diploma in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Department of Clinical Psychology — Novera International University
1. Program Overview:
An advanced foundational professional and clinical program extending over 3 months (80 hours of approved study load), aimed at equipping participants with the theoretical knowledge and fundamental applied skills of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). The program focuses on enabling therapists and counselors to master the four core skill sets (mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness), in addition to case formulation, designing and managing treatment programs, and dealing with complex psychological disorders.
2. Key Objectives:
- Understanding the theoretical and philosophical foundations of DBT: understanding the biosocial model and the dialectical philosophy of change and acceptance.
- Mastering and training in the four skills modules:
· Mindfulness skills.
· Distress tolerance skills.
· Emotion regulation skills.
· Interpersonal effectiveness skills.
- Mastering therapist strategies and techniques: applying Validation techniques, behavioral change strategies, and designing and managing the treatment program.
- Clinical application and case formulation: practicing clinical training and applying protocols with severe psychological disorders such as borderline personality disorder, self-harm, and mood disorders, while observing professional ethics.
3. Target Audience:
- Psychologists, clinical psychologists, and psychological counselors.
- Psychiatrists and healthcare practitioners in mental health hospitals and clinics.
- Researchers and postgraduate students in Psychology, Psychiatry, and Behavioral Sciences.
- Therapists wishing to specialize in behavioral intervention skills, emotion regulation, and psychological crisis management.
4. Training Program Modules (12 Specialized and Applied Modules):
1. Introduction to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Its Fundamental Concepts.
2. Theoretical and Philosophical Foundations of Dialectical Behavior Therapy.
3. Clinical Assessment and Case Formulation in DBT.
4. Mindfulness Skills.
5. Distress Tolerance and Crisis Management Skills.
6. Emotion Regulation Skills (Part One).
7. Emotion Regulation Skills (Part Two).
8. Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills.
9. Therapist Strategies and Techniques and Validation Methods.
10. Designing and Managing the Treatment Program in DBT.
11. DBT Applications with Psychological Disorders and Different Age Groups.
12. Clinical Training, Case Formulation, and Ethics of Professional Practice.
5. Program Data and Organizational Assessment:
- Field and subfield: Psychology / Clinical Psychology.
- Duration and sessions: 3 months (evening period) | 20 to 25 lectures (two lectures per week, two hours per lecture).
- Distribution of credit hours (80 hours):
· 50 hours: interactive live lectures (remote / online).
· 20 hours: required and independent readings.
· 7 hours: chapter questions and self-assessment.
· 3 hours: final review and completion examination.
- Attendance and assessment requirements: an attendance rate of no less than 75% of the interactive lectures, in addition to assignments and continuous assessments.
- Final project: an online assessment test (25 multiple-choice questions + 5 clinical case-study questions).
