Doing Dialectical Behavior Therapy ─ A Practical Guide

Filled with vivid clinical vignettes and step-by-step descriptions, this book demonstrates the nuts and bolts of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). DBT is expressly designed for—and shown to be effective with—clients with serious, multiple problems and a history of treatment failure. The book provides an accessible introduction to DBT while enabling therapists of any orientation to integrate elements of this evidence-based approach into their work with emotionally dysregulated clients. Experienced DBT clinician and trainer Kelly Koerner clearly explains how to formulate individual cases; prioritize treatment goals; and implement a skillfully orchestrated blend of behavioral change strategies, validation strategies, and dialectical strategies.

Kelly Koerner, PhD, is Founder and Creative Director of the Evidence-Based Practice Institute, where she explores how technology can be used for learning and collaboration to help practitioners get better clinical outcomes. She is an expert clinician, clinical supervisor, and trainer in DBT, with specialized training in many other evidence-based treatments. She has served as Director of Training for Marsha M. Linehan’s research investigating the efficacy of DBT for suicidal and drug-abusing individuals with borderline personality disorder; Creative Director at Behavioral Tech Research, where she developed e-learning and other technology-based methods to disseminate evidence-based practices; and Co-Founder and first CEO of Behavioral Tech, a company that provides training in DBT. Dr. Koerner is a Clinical Faculty member at the University of Washington and maintains a small clinical consulting practice in Seattle.