Swim and don't drown - therapeutic goals and strategies in DBT.
Moderator
Dr. Yifat Cohen
What's in the workshop?
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is an essentially integrative therapy designed to treat people who suffer from difficulties with emotional regulation and instability in all areas of life. These are complex patients with diverse and difficult symptoms and often suicidal behavior. Prof. Marsha Linehan developed this revolutionary treatment in the 1980s, and since then over 50 (!) controlled studies have been conducted that show effectiveness in treating borderline personality disorder, suicidal behavior, eating disorders, substance use, and more. The treatment is based on 3 worlds of knowledge: behaviorism, mindfulness, and dialectical philosophy.
In order to find the most effective way through the complexities of symptoms and the intensity of emotions brought by the patient, the treatment sets clear goals in a predetermined order, and uses therapeutic strategies of validation and problem solving that are balanced between them through dialectical thinking. These allow for systematic and effective work. The individual treatment is accompanied by a group to learn skills that constitute practical tools for problem solving and allow a sense of competence and control for both the therapist and the patient. The core skill is mindfulness, which is also a therapeutic stance.
The therapeutic strategies can be learned and their use is direct, open and understandable. Validation includes 6 levels of intervention and allows the patient to feel seen and understood. Problem solving includes performing a functional analysis that allows for in-depth work on events and interactions in a way that allows the patient to identify patterns of behavior and thinking, to have feelings and to be aware of the connection between them. The dialectical combination of validation and problem solving allows for finding alternatives, joint observation of the big picture and escape from dead-end situations in external reality as well as in the treatment room.
Workshop objectives:
Basic introduction to the principles of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
Learning how to work through hierarchies - primary goals of therapy
Learning and practicing validation and problem solving and the dialectical balance between them
Learning methods:
The workshop will use a presentation that will be sent to participants in advance, and videos will be shown to clarify the concepts of validation and functional analysis. As time permits, validation practice will be conducted as well as practice in the use of dialectical thinking. The workshop will be conducted as an open discussion, the facilitator will present clinical examples and participants will also be invited to share clinical examples from their treatment rooms.
About the moderator
Dr. Yifat Cohen - M.D. Child and adolescent psychiatrist and psychotherapist. Founded and managed the Ofek Institute for DBT treatment and study between 2007-2022. Managed the Ministry of Health's mental health clinic. Lectured and supervised psychodynamic therapy for children and adolescents as part of the continuing education program at Tel Aviv University, lectured in the Israeli CBT program, and is a certified instructor from ITA. Coordinates the subject of DBT and lectures at the 'Nafshim' Institute for Research and Implementation of the Integrative Approach in Psychotherapy at the Tel Aviv-Yafo Academic College. Teaches and supervises the DBT approach at the 'Ofek' Institute and in academic, public, and private settings.