Behavioral Health Team Completes DBT Certification

Starting in May 2016, Callen-Lorde sent a team of ten mental health providers to participate in a two-part Intensive Training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) hosted by The Linehan Institute-Behavioral Tech at St. John’s University. DBT is a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment originally designed for patients with borderline personality disorder and/or chronic suicidality and non-suicidal self injury (NSSI) behaviors. Research supports use of DBT to treat post-traumatic stress, disordered eating, substance abuse, depression, and quality of life interfering behaviors. The training will allow behavioral health staff to engage in DBT practice at Callen-Lorde, making us one of the first (if not the first) LGBTQ-sensitive and affirming programs of its kind.

The DBT Intensive Training involves rigorous preparation, training, and study. Part 1 and Part 2 are both five full days of training. The course is designed to model basic elements of the treatment in an experiential way and to foster team development. Just as DBT requires clients to make a full commitment to treatment and to attend all sessions, DBT training requires intensive participants to attend the entire training, do their best to learn the material, and participate in a willing, committed manner. Callen-Lorde’s DBT team was recognized for their outstanding work in the training and received an award including a DBT video training package! Participants included Angeliki Pesiridou, Anne Rousselot, Candice Martin, Chuck Munn, Julie Novas, Kate Filmore, Leigh Howard, Melanie Martinez, Munib Raad, and Rosalind Lloyd. We look forward to bringing these skills to our patients and to our communities.