Workshops

Doing DBT with Autistic Adults

Presented by: Alana J. McVey, Ph.D.

Dates: Friday April 10, 2026
Time: 1 pm – 2:30 PM PST (2 – 3:30pm MST / 3 – 4:30pm  CST / 4 PM – 5:30 PM EST)
Location: Zoom

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About the Webinar

Autistic people are much more likely to experience suicidality, with a 9-fold risk of ideation, 6-fold risk of attempt, and 5-fold risk of death by suicide. Despite these elevated rates, mental health providers are not routinely trained in delivering mental health treatment, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, to Autistic clients and have expressed a lack of competence and confidence in doing so.

In this 90-minute introductory webinar, Dr. McVey will:

1.Define Autism,

2.Give an overview of the prevalence and symptoms of co-occurring mental health concerns among Autistic people, and

3.Outline evidence-driven strategies for Autism-affirming adaptations to full-model DBT.

Learning Objectives

1.Identify four characteristics of Autism in adulthood.

2.Name three warning signs of suicidality specific to Autistic people.

3.Describe three adaptations to skills training for Autistic clients.

About the Presenter

Alana J. McVey, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Center for Behavioral Medicine (CBM) in Brookfield, WI, USA. She earned her BS in psychology from Loyola University Chicago and her MS and PhD in clinical psychology from Marquette University. She completed her predoctoral internship at the University of California Los Angeles and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of British Columbia and the University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Autism Center.

Dr. McVey spent more a dozen years in autism research with a focus on the presentation and treatment of co-occurring mental health concerns and has published more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles on autism. Her research over the past several years has focused on using implementation science methods to adapt DBT for Autistic clients. This work won the ISITDBT Student Research Award in 2022, and Dr. McVey has been invited to speak nationally and internationally on this topic.

At CBM, Dr. McVey sees clients for individual therapy, leads a Stage 1 skills group, supervises graduate practicum students, conducts practice-based research, helps to and organize continuing education events, and provides training and consultation on adapting evidence-based treatments (CBT and DBT) for Autistic clients.

In her spare time, she enjoys running, yoga, hiking, birding, and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Continuing Education Credits

The DBT Centre of Vancouver is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. The DBT Centre of Vancouver maintains responsibility for the program as a provider of continuing education (CE) activities. At the end of the workshop, participants will receive a letter of attendance confirming the number of credits awarded (1 credit/hour). This workshop is eligible for 1.5 CE credits. Unfortunately we are not able to award CME credits for physicians.

The CPA’s approval of an individual, group, or organization as a CE Sponsor or Provider is restricted to the activities described in the approved application or annual report form. The CPA’s approval does not extend to any other CE activity the Sponsor or Provider might offer. In granting its approval, the CPA assumes no legal or financial obligations to Sponsors, Providers, or to those individuals who might participate in a Sponsor or Provider’s CE activities or programs. Further, responsibility for the content, provision, and delivery of any CE activity approved by the CPA remains that of the CE Sponsor or Provider. The CPA disclaims all legal liability associated with the content, provision, and delivery of the approved CE activity.

Fees

Mental health professional: $70+GST = $73.50

Student in a mental health program: $63 + GST = $66.15

Group rates are not eligible for this webinar.

Cancellation Policy

The DBT Centre of Vancouver will provide refunds up to 7 days prior to a scheduled workshop and are subject to a $15 admin fee.