Dialectical Behavior Therapy - A Contemporary Guide For Practitioners

"Dr. Pederson's clinical expertise shines as he takes DBT out of the hands of researchers and translates it into a practical, flexible, and powerful approach to human problems. This is your all-in-one source for understanding and practicing DBT and beyond that, for doing good clinical work in tough client situations." Barry L. Duncan, Psy.D., author of On Becoming a Better Therapist: Evidence-Based Practice One Client at a Time

"Bridging research and practice, with this straightforward, accessible guide, Pederson delivers on his promise to place DBT philosophies and techniques all-squarely into the hands of real-world clinicians working with real-world clients who so desperately need it!" Linda Curran, clinician, trainer, and author of Trauma Competency: A Clinician's Guide and 101 Trauma-Informed Interventions

"New to DBT? Been using it for a while? Either way, this text will deepen your knowledge and strengthen your clinical skills. Dr. Pederson is an expert DBT clinician and trainer. He has created a comprehensive overview of DBT that has sufficient breadth and depth to empower readers to begin using DBT or improve their current practice. This text will be your go-to resource for all things DBT." Cathy Moonshine, author of Acquiring Competency and Achieving Proficiency with Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Volumes I and II

"This book promises to be the most influential DBT publication to date, not only in its superb description of the approach but also in the way it builds a bridge between research and practice with a focus on what is most effective for clients. The future of our field rests on outcome-based modifications and customizations to evidence-based treatments, and Dr. Pederson provides an in-depth analysis of research that empowers DBT therapists to embrace the future now. This is a must read for all DBT therapists." Dr. Mark Carlson, DBT trainer for PESI Healthcare and author of CBT for Chronic Pain and Psychological Well-Being

"This is a clear, succinct, and readable guide for those who want to understand DBT. Dr. Pederson describes the components and techniques necessary to deliver the comprehensive treatment as well as some intriguing adaptations to standard DBT. Readers will find practical information that allows them to provide effective, evidence-based treatment with a sharp focus on the therapeutic relationship and ultimately, outcomes. Anyone looking to improve his or her clinical skill and be a more effective clinician will find this book to be a useful resource." Britt H. Rathbone, co-author of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for At-Risk Adolescents

This is the first book to show in detail how dialectical behavior therapy skills and approaches can be adapted and integrated into the broader evidence-based practice of psychotherapy. DBT was first developed in the late 1980s by Marsha Linehan as a response to the failure of standard cognitive and behavioral models to effectively treat chronically suicidal clients, and was built on a "dialectical" balance of acceptance and change. The "standard" form of DBT remains highly structured, as was appropriate to its original treatment group. However, today's therapists are increasingly encouraged to combine and integrate empirically supported treatments in a broader form of evidence-based practice that recognizes the importance of therapist expertise and judgment balanced with client needs and preferences. In short, most therapists want to incorporate DBT into their skills portfolio rather than become a specialist. This groundbreaking book makes a compelling case that today's best research evidence supports the adaptation of DBT, and presents the approach as a robust theoretical orientation that can be applied to a wide range of clinical presentations.

Lane D. Pederson is the owner of Mental Health Systems, one of the largest DBT-specialized practices in the USA, and is the founder of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy National Certification and Accreditation Association. As a DBT speaker, Dr. Pederson has trained over 7,000 therapists across the United States, Canada, and Australia. He is an outspoken advocate of flexible and evidence-based applications of DBT, and his books include DBT Skills Training for Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment Settings (2013) and The Expanded Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training Manual (2012). Dr. Pederson can be contacted for DBT Training and other inquiries at www.drlanepederson.com.