Continuing & Professional Studies, Palo Alto University

This on-demand professional training program on Forensic Applications of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is presented by Michele Galietta, Ph.D.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral therapy designed for severe and multi-diagnostic patients. While it was initially developed for women with chronic suicidality and borderline personality disorder, it is increasingly used in various health settings for a breadth of "difficult-to-treat" patients. Since the 1990s, DBT has been subjected to numerous clinical trials and adapted for various populations, including adolescents and forensic inpatients and outpatients. Comprehensive DBT has been found to have practical utility for reducing violence and self-harm. In addition, it can reduce problem behaviors in individual clients and stabilize the milieu by employing eastern principles of acceptance and compassion paired with careful behaviorism. 

This program provides participants with a thorough introduction to standard DBT and the specific adaptations and strategies beneficial for adults and juveniles in forensic settings (e.g., jails/prisons, forensic hospitals, juvenile justice settings, probation). Moreover, it will discuss the research supporting comprehensive DBT in forensic settings.