Description

This 4-day virtual live workshop is designed to provide intensive training in how to integrate PTSD treatment into standard DBT. Participants will learn the DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE) protocol for treating PTSD, one of the newest developments in DBT research and practice. Research has shown that this protocol can be added to DBT to allow for integrated treatment of PTSD, suicidal and self-injurious behavior, and other co-occurring problems. Participants will learn how to use DBT strategies to prepare high-risk and multi-problem clients for the DBT PE protocol as well as how to determine when clients are ready to begin formal PTSD treatment. The structure and procedures of the DBT PE protocol will be taught in a session-by-session format with extensive opportunities to watch video examples and practice delivering each of the primary treatment components. Particular attention will be paid to discussing strategies for overcoming common problems that arise during PTSD treatment with high-risk and multi-problem clients as well as how to tailor the treatment to address the complex characteristics of this client population.

Learning Objectives

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

Explain the rationale for developing the DBT PE protocol.
Describe the evidence base supporting DBT PE.
Identify DBT strategies to use to prepare high-risk and multi-problem clients for DBT PE.
Determine if clients are ready for formal PTSD treatment.
Explain the treatment rationale (i.e., how PTSD is maintained and how DBT PE works to reduce PTSD).
Conduct the Trauma Interview and select traumatic events to target via imaginal exposure.
Provide psychoeducation about common dialectical reactions to trauma.
Explain the rationale for using in vivo exposure to treat PTSD.
Develop an in vivo exposure hierarchy.
Explain the rationale for using imaginal exposure to treat PTSD.
Conduct imaginal exposure.
Conduct processing of imaginal exposure.
Describe the typical pattern of change in emotions over the course of DBT PE.
Determine when to pause and resume DBT PE to address higher-priority problems.
Address avoidance that interferes with exposure.
Address emotional over- and under-engagement during exposure.
Address stuck beliefs and emotions that interfere with reducing PTSD.
Teach skills for preventing and managing a relapse of PTSD.

Who Should Attend

This advanced workshop is intended for mental health professionals who:

Have received DBT Intensive or Foundational training (or equivalent),
Currently provide DBT individual therapy to adolescents or adults, and
Agree to read the DBT PE manual prior to the training.

Daily Schedule (all times are in Pacific Time)

6:30 - 7:00 Login and Test Zoom Set-Up
7:00 - 9:00 Teaching Section 1
9:00 - 9:30 Break
9:30 - 11:00 Teaching Section 2
11:00 - 12:00 Lunch
12:00 - 1:30 Teaching Section 3
1:30 - 2:00 Break
2:00 - 3:15 Teaching Section 4
3:15 - 3:30 Q&A, Evaluation, and Logout

Trainers

Melanie Harned, PhD, ABPP is a Psychologist and Coordinator of the DBT Program at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System as well as an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington. Dr. Harned has previously worked as the Research Director of Dr. Marsha Linehan’s Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics at the University of Washington (2006-2018), Director of Research and Development for Behavioral Tech, LLC (2014-2017), and Director of Behavioral Tech Research, Inc. (2013-2016). Dr. Harned’s research focuses on the development and evaluation of the DBT Prolonged Exposure protocol for PTSD as well as methods of disseminating and implementing this and other evidence-based treatments into clinical practice. She regularly provides training and consultation nationally and internationally in DBT and DBT PE and has published numerous articles and book chapters on these treatments. She is a certified DBT therapist, a certified PE therapist and supervisor, is board certified in Behavioral and Cognitive therapy, and is licensed as a psychologist in the state of Washington.

Samantha Yard, PhD earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Washington, where she completed a 3-year DBT practicum at the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics. She served as a member of Dr. Marsha Linehan’s treatment development team, and as a research therapist on Dr. Melanie Harned’s NIMH-funded randomized clinical trial of DBT PE. Dr. Yard received a 5-year National Service Research Award from NIMH to fund her predoctoral research on the intersection between trauma, emotion regulation, interpersonal relationships, and risk behaviors, which she further developed during a postdoctoral fellowship in PTSD at VA Puget Sound. After fellowship, she joined VA Puget Sound as a staff psychologist, where she has been providing clinical supervision, training, program development and clinical care primarily focused on the treatment of suicide and PTSD. During this time, she co-founded the comprehensive DBT Program at Seattle VA, served as Team Manager of the VA Puget Sound Intensive Outpatient Program, and provided DBT consultation and training for multiple VA sites and as part of the VA National Suicide Prevention 2.0 initiative. She provides supervision, training, and consultation in DBT and DBT PE both locally and nationally and has experience consulting to teams in juvenile detention, medical rehabilitation, residential, outpatient (in-person and virtual), and intensive outpatient settings.

Cost

Workshop Registration Fee:

Early Bird Discount: for registrations paid by August 1, 2026 - $1,495 per person
Standard Price: for registrations paid by October 18, 2026 - $1,595 per person

The workshop registration fee covers the cost of the workshop and supporting materials, which will include electronic copies of the slide handouts and additional training materials that will be emailed to you prior to the workshop. The workshop registration fee does not include the cost of CE credits (see below). Workshop fees are refundable up to 30 days before the event minus processing fees.

Continuing Education Credits (optional):

26 CE credits are being offered by Triangle Area Psychology clinic Continuing Education - $40 per person

*NOTE: CE credits are not included in this registration and must be paid for separately on TAP CE's website (see below).

Continuing Education Information

Continuing Education (CE) credits are being offered for this workshop by Triangle Area Psychology clinic Continuing Education (TAP CE: https://tapclinicnc.com/tapce/) as described below.

Twenty-six (26) CE credits are being offered for this workshop for those who attend the event in full. TAP is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. TAP maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Participants who miss more than 15 minutes of the training will not be eligible for CEs - partial CE credits will not be given. Participants are required to sign in online at the beginning and conclusion of the course and participate fully in the course, Q&A and any assessments given by the presenters. Questions about the CE credits for this event can be directed to tapce@tapclinicnc.com.

Other Information

The workshop will be held via Zoom video conferencing platform. You will be sent information with instructions for logging in about one week prior to the workshop.

All participants will be required to sign a Video Privacy Agreement prior to being admitted to the training. This agreement is included in the online registration.

Contact the host of Intensive Training in the DBT Prolonged Exposure Protocol for PTSD