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The Business of Practice

Choosing Your Path to DBT Certification: The On-Demand Route vs. The Cohort Experience

Every therapist knows the power of ongoing learning. But what kind of continuing education is most effective? When choosing a format, you should consider what best suits your professional goals. In this post, we’ll compare and contrast our on-demand DBT Certification with our 2023-2024 DBT Cohort, both taught by leading expert, Dr. Michele Galietta

Dr. Galietta is a researcher and clinician specializing in the training, adaptation, and dissemination of empirically-supported treatments to community and forensic/correctional settings. For over a decade, Dr. Galietta served as a principal trainer for Behavioral Tech, LLC, the company founded by the developer of DBT, Dr. Marsha Linehan. Dr. Galietta has consulted to over 100 agencies in the US and abroad on DBT initiatives.

Choosing Your Path to DBT Certification: The On-Demand Route vs. The Cohort Experience

What is DBT?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment designed in the 1980s by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D. to treat high-risk behaviors among individuals who had poor prognoses. A Certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) trains professionals on an empirically based therapeutic approach that teaches skills to patients struggling with emotional regulation, self-harm, suicidal ideation, borderline personality disorder, and other challenging conditions. 

Implementing DBT is particularly impactful for clients in these specialty areas:

  • Juvenile Justice System
  • Substance Use
  • Eating Disorders
  • Adults & Adolescents
  • Correctional System Residential or Outpatient Programs
  • Private Practice

On-Demand DBT Certification

Our on-demand certification provides flexibility, allowing you to proceed at your own pace. This learning style particularly suits professionals with demanding or inconsistent schedules. As with all our on-demand programs, you can revisit the material as often as you like and tailor the learning experience to your specific needs. The DBT Certification also includes 6 months of 1:1 consultation once the didactic component is completed. 

The Cohort Experience

If you enroll in our 2023 Cohort to earn your DBT Certification, you’ll still receive the same didactic training required in our on-demand DBT certification. However, the cohort format is specifically designed to provide an immersive and interactive learning community. 

For the first time, you'll earn your DBT certification as part of a specialized DBT team, meeting in small groups with Dr. Galietta to review diary cards, session notes, treatment summaries, and case conceptualizations for current clients. Participating in a group offers multiple perspectives on cases, encourages thoughtful discussions, and promotes problem-solving through collaboration. Group members can lean on each other, share experiences, ask questions, and learn collectively. The live consultations with Dr. Galietta provides a platform to receive direct feedback, clarify doubts, and deepen your understanding of DBT in action.

One of the benefits of the cohort experience is the individualized attention participants will receive, given the small group size. Limited to just 10 spaces, this format ensures individualized attention and fosters an intimate learning environment. 

On-Demand or as a Cohort: Getting Your DBT Certification is Always Beneficial

Getting your DBT certification is a significant career decision. Both our on-demand and cohort experience paths aim to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully implement DBT in your practice. The choice ultimately depends on your learning style, availability, and personal preference.

No matter the route you choose, earning your DBT certification will open new avenues in your practice, empower you with additional therapeutic skills, and ensure you're delivering the most effective treatment to your clients. Whichever path you choose, rest assured that you are making a valuable investment in your career, your practice, and the lives of your clients.

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