Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Implications for Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD)

This is a specialized training designed to equip mental health professionals with practical strategies for delivering DBT in accessible, engaging, and effective ways. While DBT has long been established as an evidence-based treatment for emotional regulation and behavioral challenges, its traditional structure often requires adaptation to meet the cognitive, communication, and sensory needs of clients with ID/DD. This training explores the foundations of DBT—including its roots in cognitive behavioral therapy and Zen Buddhism—and examines how its behavioral principles, dialectical philosophy, and skills modules can be modified for this population. Participants will learn how to simplify concepts, incorporate visual and sensory supports, structure sessions for success, and use concrete tools like adapted diary cards, conversation scripts, and emotion regulation aids. Through case examples and applied discussion, clinicians will gain insight into the unique challenges and strengths of clients with ID/DD, including deficits in executive functioning, difficulty with abstract reasoning, and the need for repetition and reinforcement. The course also dispels common misconceptions about therapy with this population, emphasizing that meaningful progress is possible when interventions are accessible, individualized, and strengths-based. By the end of this training, participants will be able to confidently adapt DBT strategies to promote emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance in individuals with ID/DD—fostering growth, autonomy, and a life worth living. (3.0 hours CEU for Texas LPCs, LCSWs, LMFTs, and Psychologists)