10 Hours / 10 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Validation, Commitment, Targeting, and The First Four Sessions is presented by Michele Galietta, Ph.D.  

Validation is a vital concept in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Validation means acknowledging the legitimacy of what an individual is saying or how they are behaving. Various validation levels help providers "validate the valid." This program teaches providers how to find the kernel of truth from another's perspective. In addition, this program demonstrates how to foster a validating environment to enhance change through role-playing.

Moreover, in DBT, there are three treatment target categories: life-threatening behavior, therapy-interfering behavior, and quality-of-life-interfering behavior. As a result, it can become difficult for a DBT provider to decide where to start in a session; therefore, participants learn how to manage session time according to DBT's hierarchy of targets.

Lastly, the first four sessions are structured to orient patients to DBT. Agreements are established, expectations are voiced, and commitment is garnered. As such, this program walks DBT providers through these crucial sessions and demonstrates obtaining or strengthening a client’s commitment through didactics and role-playing.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the levels of Validation
  • 2 Describe the use of Validation with one individual client
  • 3 Demonstrate commitment of a new client to DBT
  • 4 Describe an effective treatment plan addressing suicidality
  • 5 Describe commitment strategies and practice

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health professionals who are building, refining, or advancing their skills in treating individuals with emotion regulation difficulties, self-harm behaviors, or complex mental health conditions using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and other comprehensive cognitive-behavioral approaches. It is relevant for those seeking to enhance their expertise in structured, team-based care and evidence-based interventions for clients who benefit from cognitive-behavioral treatments.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist
    • Psychiatrist
    • Social Worker
    • Case Manager
    • Nurse
    • Marriage & Family Therapist
    • Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor
    • Other mental health professionals working with clients who benefit from cognitive-behavioral treatments

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for all career stages: entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professionals. This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at all experience levels seeking to enhance their skills in DBT validation, commitment strategies, and session structuring.


    • Beginner: New to DBT or seeking foundational knowledge of validation, treatment target hierarchy, and structuring initial sessions.

    • Intermediate: Familiar with DBT principles and seeking to deepen skills in applying validation techniques, managing session priorities, and fostering client commitment.

    • Advanced: Experienced in DBT, aiming to refine advanced validation strategies, optimize treatment planning for complex cases, and strengthen client engagement through nuanced role-play and didactic methods.

  • Practice Setting

    Mental health professionals who participate in this training typically work in structured, collaborative environments that emphasize evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral interventions. These settings often involve multidisciplinary teams and serve clients with complex emotional and behavioral needs. Providers may deliver care in outpatient clinics, community mental health centers, hospitals, private practices, or intensive outpatient programs, where they address issues such as emotion dysregulation, self-harm, and co-occurring mental health conditions. The practice environment is characterized by regular team consultation, structured treatment protocols, and a focus on client engagement and safety.

    • Outpatient mental health clinics specializing in DBT or cognitive-behavioral therapies
    • Community mental health centers serving diverse populations
    • Hospital-based psychiatric units or partial hospitalization programs
    • Private practices offering individual and group DBT
    • Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) for clients with high-risk behaviors
    • School-based mental health services
    • Substance use treatment centers integrating DBT approaches
    • Residential treatment facilities for adolescents or adults with complex needs

Presented By

Michele Galietta, PhD Associate Professor of Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Dr. Michele Galietta is Associate Professor of Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York where she served as Director of the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program from 2005-2013. Dr. Galietta is a researcher and clinician specializing in the training, adaptation and dissemination of empirically-supported treatments to community and forensic/correctional settings.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Michele Galietta, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Understanding Validation in DBT
    Definition and importance of validation
    Learning to “validate the valid” using levels of validation
    Techniques for identifying the kernel of truth in a client’s perspective

  • Creating a Validating Environment
    Strategies for fostering validation to support behavior change
    Demonstrations and role-playing of effective validation

  • Navigating DBT’s Treatment Target Hierarchy
    Overview of DBT’s three treatment targets:
    Life-threatening behavior
    Therapy-interfering behavior
    Quality-of-life-interfering behavior
    Managing session time and prioritizing targets

  • Structuring the First Four DBT Sessions
    Orienting patients to DBT
    Establishing agreements and clarifying expectations
    Techniques for obtaining and strengthening client commitment
    Use of didactics and role-play to model these early sessions

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.