Classes

Fall 2026/Winter 2027 – Intro to DBT Course

The DBT Centre of Vancouver is pleased to offer two 12-week courses to mental health professionals seeking to learn about Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). Participants may enroll in Class 1 (Fall 2026), Class 2 (Winter/Spring 2027), or both, depending on their training needs and previous experience and training with DBT. We believe that these courses are most helpful for clinicians with beginning to intermediate familiarity with DBT.

Both courses will involve engaging and active learning experiences, with teaching methods including didactics, demonstration, audio and video review, and the active practicing of DBT principles and strategies.

Class 1: DBT Foundations and Individual Therapy

The first class, occurring over 12 90-minute classes from September 14- December 7, 2025 (Mondays, 11:30-1pm PST) focuses on the foundations, theory, structure, and core individual therapy principles and strategies in DBT.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand and describe the dialectical, behavioural, and biosocial theory underlying DBT.
• Use core DBT assessment strategies (e.g., diary card, chain analysis) to better understand client behaviours.
• Employ core DBT behaviour change strategies, including problem solving, contingency management, cognitive and exposure-based approaches.
• Balance and synthesize acceptance- and change-based therapeutic strategies and styles, such as validation and problem-solving strategies, and reciprocal and irreverent therapeutic styles.
• Structure and organize DBT individual therapy sessions.
• Describe the role of phone coaching in DBT, along with key principles for coaching clients in skills.
• Describe the role of case management and the DBT consultation team in DBT.

Dates and Time

• Mondays 11:30-1pm PST (12:30-2pm MST / 2:30-4pm EST)
• September 14 – December 7, 2026.
• 12 sessions of 90 minutes each.
• Held live via Zoom for Healthcare.
• No class on October 12, 2026 (Canadian Thanksgiving).

Class 2: DBT Skills Training

Continuing where the first course leaves off, the second course, occurring over 12 90-minute classes starting January 2027 (Mondays, 11:30-1pm PST) will focus on skills training in DBT, such as how to understand and teach mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion, regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills.

Class 1 is not a prerequisite for Class 2. 

Learning Objectives:

• Understand and describe the role of skills training in DBT.
• Describe DBT principles and approaches used to organize and structure DBT skills training groups, and to teach and coach clients in skills.
• Describe and begin to teach the core mindfulness skills.
• Describe and begin to teach the core distress tolerance skills.
• Describe and begin to teach the core emotion regulation skills.
• Describe and begin to teach the core interpersonal effectiveness skills.
• Begin to incorporate DBT skills into everyday clinical practice.

Dates and Time

• Mondays 11:30-1pm PST (12:30-2pm MST / 2:30-4pm EST).
• Starting January 2027.
• 12 sessions of 90 minutes each.
• Held live via Zoom for Healthcare.
• No class on February 15th (Family Day) or March 29, 2027 (Easter Monday).

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

Originally developed to help chronically suicidal individuals, DBT has become the most well-researched treatment for people with complex mental health challenges characteristic of borderline personality disorder (BPD). DBT is a comprehensive, cognitive-behavioral treatment consisting of (a) weekly individual therapy, (b) weekly group DBT skills training, (c) as needed telephone consultation (often referred to as “phone coaching”), and (d) a weekly DBT consultation team meeting for therapists. DBT is a compassionate approach combining acceptance and mindfulness principles and strategies with evidence-based skills and core treatment strategies (e.g., cognitive and exposure therapy; contingency management) to help people build lives that are worth living.

Instructors

Alexander L. Chapman, Ph.D., R.Psych. is a registered psychologist, the president of the DBT Centre of Vancouver and a professor and director of clinical training in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University (SFU). Full bio here.

 

 

 

John R. Wagner, Ph.D., R.Psych. is a registered psychologist, director of the DBT Centre of Vancouver, and an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. He regularly provides consultation and training to area providers. Full bio here.

 

 

Both Dr. Chapman and Dr. Wagner completed post-doctoral fellowships with Dr. Marsha Linehan, developer of DBT, provide DBT in their practice, and regularly train and supervise clinicians in DBT and consult with agencies about DBT implementation.

Attendance

All classes will be provided live through Zoom. Attendance is mandatory and classes cannot be made up at a later time. If participants are not able to make a class, recordings of lectures will not be available. We recommend participants defer registration if they know they will be away for more than one class. Participants are expected to log on through a secure wi-fi connection with access to a microphone and camera and work in a private office or room.

Continuing Education Credits

The DBT Centre of Vancouver is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) to offer continuing education for psychologists and maintains responsibility for the program. Participants who complete the course are eligible for a total of 36 continuing education (CE) credits. At the end of the course, participants will receive a letter of attendance confirming the number of credits awarded (3 credits per class). The number of CE credit hours awarded are based on the hours attended.

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.

Required Reading

We will be assigning readings from and referencing the following texts during the course:

Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder
by Marsha Linehan – May 1993
(ISBN-10: 0898621836, ISBN-13: 978-0898621839)

DBT Skills Training Manual, Second Edition
by Marsha Linehan – Oct 2014
(ISBN-10: 1462516998, ISBN-13: 978-1462516995)

Who Can Register

As this course is one aspect of ongoing training for other clinicians at the DBT Centre, space is limited. Registration will be closed once space has been filled. Mental health professionals (e.g., psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counsellors, nurses, etc.) working in the public and private sector seeking to gain a better understanding of DBT and useful clinical tools to use in practice are encouraged to register. Due to the level of training in this course, registrants must have at least a Master’s degree in a mental health related field (or be working towards such a degree).

Frequently Asked Questions

1. I work as a sole practitioner and would like to provide DBT to my BPD clients; can I do that after these courses?

Most clinicians will find themselves feeling better equipped to provide elements of DBT after completing these courses. Some clinicians will wish to develop or be part of a full, standard DBT program (e.g. Comprehensive DBT), for which these courses provides excellent preparation. Others might wish to simply inform their practice with certain DBT strategies or skills, for which this course will prove useful as well.

2. Would I be able to start/lead DBT groups after this course?

The second course (DBT Skills Training) covers the core DBT skills as well as the structure and format of a DBT skills group. We recommend that clinicians seeking to run DBT skills groups also receive foundational training in DBT principles and strategies, which the first course (DBT Foundations and Individual Therapy) offers. Clinicians might find themselves ready to run a group after these courses, or they might wish to seek further training or supervision/consultation.

3. I work in a group practice and we would like to start a DBT program. Could we do this after completing these courses?

Starting a DBT program requires a few key tasks. First, clinicians must develop foundational knowledge in the core principles, strategies, and skills of DBT. Our aim is for these courses to provide such knowledge. Second, clinicians need to know how to piece together a DBT team, develop a mission and goals for their program, determine who their program will serve, solve logistical or financial barriers to starting a program, develop a sustainability plan, and so forth. While this course does not focus on program development, Drs. Chapman and Wagner have experience helping large systems develop DBT programs. Should you be interested in consultation, training, or guidance in how to do this, please contact us at info@dbtvancouver.com.

4. I’m not seeing any clients right now (I’m on sabbatical/maternity leave/not currently working, etc.). Is it appropriate for me to take these courses?

Yes, we have had several clinicians in this position take the course and still find it valuable for their practice. The courses has practical homework exercises that can often be used with clients, but some of these can be done with a colleague or family member (with their permission).

5. My clients/patients don’t have borderline personality disorder but do struggle with self-harm and chronic suicidal behaviours. Would this course be appropriate?

Yes, this course would be a very good fit. DBT is not just for people with borderline personality disorder and can be particularly effective in addressing suicidal behaviours and a range of other clinical problem areas.

6. What is the difference between these courses and other multi-day trainings offered by the DBT Centre of Vancouver?

Course 1 (DBT Foundations and Individual Therapy) focuses more on the theory and core interventions involved in DBT, whereas our workshop on conducting adherent/effective individual DBT (often offered in the mid-fall) focuses more on how to navigate individual therapy sessions in a way that’s adherent to the DBT manual. Course 2 (DBT Skills Training) is similar to, though broader than, our 2 or 3 day DBT Skills Workshop (often offered in the late spring) in that it includes training on how to structure and run DBT groups.

7. Does this course lead to certification?

This course can be used to satisfy some of the requirements to apply for certification. For further information on DBT certification, please see the following website: https://dbt-lbc.org

8. How much reading and studying is involved?

Each week, we typically assign 1-2 chapters of reading, along with a couple of practice exercises to complete either alone (e.g., mindfulness) or with clients (practice of DBT strategies).

9. Are there any exams or papers that I need to write?

Not at present.

10. Is there a level 2 of this course? What is the next step after the Intro?

We are currently developing ideas for next steps following this course and will post them on our website when we’re ready.

11. I took the DBT skills workshop already—does this course cover the same material?

If you mean you took the multi-day DBT skills workshop that we have frequently offered in the summer, please see response above.

12. Will I receive a certificate at the end of the course?

Participants will receive a letter of attendance confirming the number of credits awarded (18 credits per course). The number of CE (continuing education) hours awarded are based on the hours attended.

13. I know I’m going to be away for 2 weeks; can I still take the course? Can I access recordings of the lectures?

Recordings of lectures will not be available. If you are not able to attend a lecture, you will still receive a copy of the slides; however, the number of CE credits will be reduced. The number of CE hours awarded are based on the hours attended. If you know you will be away for more than one lecture, we recommend waiting until the next course starts.

14. What is your cancellation policy for the course?

We will provide a refund (minus 30% administrative fee) up to 6 days prior to the start of the course.

15. Can I claim this training on my income taxes?

Fees for this training are not eligible for a tax credit; as such we are not able to issue a T2202 Tuition and Enrollment Certificate.