Training

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Training Program at the Columbia University School of Social Work was originally developed in collaboration with Marsha M. Linehan, PhD, ABPP, the treatment developer, during her tenure at the Behavioral Research & Therapy Clinics at the University of Washington.  This program is, to date, the first and only DBT training program in a School of Social Work.  An extension of the experimental DBT training program offered at CUSSW from 2003-2009, our ongoing affiliation with the DBT training and research community provides additional curricular support and consultation in adapting DBT for the MS social work education base.

The program is 12 months long, from May of the first year, through graduation a year later. It is comprised of a rigorous academic curriculum, including two summer classes, paired with field-based DBT internship experiences. In addition to prescribed academic requirements, students participate in on-campus preparatory classes from May through August of the first summer.  Ten days of DBT Intensive Training are provided by Behavioral Tech, LLC. Five training days in August prior to the start of the academic year and five during the January holidays.  A 2.5 day workshop seminar in Suicide Risk Assessment and Management is also held during fall semester.

DBT internships are supervised by intensively-trained and certification-eligible master clinicians at agencies in outpatient, inpatient, school-based and prison settings. Students interested in becoming DBT Interns should register their interest early by attending informational sessions held in the fall of their first year at CSSW.  Application to the program includes a statement of personal interest, references and two interviews.  Evaluations are based on academic preparation, prior clinical experience with cognitive-behavioral interventions, and research interest.  Interviews are offered and students are informed of their selection into the DBT program prior to field placement selection in February.

Click here to read about program requirements.

Click here for a description of the application process.

Click here to learn more about the DBT internship sites.

For more information on the DBT Training Program & Lab as well as application process, please review the following webinars:

DBT Training Program Webinar Part 1: Treatment Overview (CC)

https://columbia.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=983b34b7-cf75-4a6f-8039-ac4c0142652a

Join us for a Q & A info session about the training program and application process! These sessions take place during the Fall semester.

QUESTIONS?  EMAIL [email protected]