Applied DBT Skills for Trauma

Advanced training to help clients stabilize, process, and rebuild after trauma

About the course

Start date
Immediate access
Time
14 hours | 12 months access
Who this course is for
For Mental Health & Heath Professionals, Coaches
Accreditation
14 CE / CME Credits

Many clients with trauma histories - especially those who are emotionally dysregulated, high-risk, or complex - struggle to begin or stay engaged in therapy. Intense emotions, self-destructive behaviors, dissociation, and interpersonal difficulties can make therapy feel overwhelming or unsafe.

This course provides a clear framework for using DBT skills to support trauma recovery. You’ll learn how to use DBT skills to stabilize symptoms, manage distress, and help clients tolerate painful emotions and rebuild meaningful relationships - whether you're delivering trauma treatment directly, preparing clients to begin it, or supporting them afterward. Even if you’re not using a formal trauma protocol, you’ll gain practical strategies to support trauma-related symptoms and emotional intensity in your clients.

Taught by Dr. Melanie Harned, developer of DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE), this advanced course includes detailed roleplays, targeted interventions, and case-based instruction to help you confidently apply DBT skills to a range of trauma-related problems - regardless of your primary therapeutic approach.

There are 14 CE/CME credits available for this course (see Learner Notification).

Applied DBT Skills for Trauma
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Organization Training Enquiries
Meet Your Course Presenter

Melanie Harned, PhD, ABPP Dr. Harned is the developer of DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE) and a leading expert in DBT and trauma treatment. She has spent her career helping clients with severe trauma histories access effective care, and trains clinicians worldwide in the integration of DBT and evidence-based trauma interventions.

Featuring Dr. Marsha Linehan and Leading DBT Experts - Founder of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Dr. Linehan shares key insights into DBT skills, alongside other leading DBT experts who highlight their application with trauma-related problems. See your all your course experts here.

Melanie Harned teaching
How This Course Helps You in Practice

  • Stabilize high-risk and trauma-related symptoms Use DBT skills to target dissociation, suicidal behaviors, self-harm, and emotional dysregulation - helping clients build safety, manage distress, and tolerate painful emotions like fear, shame, and anger. Includes the use of crisis survival skills for short-term coping.

  • Support recovery across all phases of treatment Apply the full range of DBT skills - mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness - before, during, and after trauma-focused work to reinforce progress and sustain long-term gains. Learn when DBT skills are essential for stabilization and when clients may be ready to begin trauma processing directly.

  • Improve relationships and social support Teach clients how to set boundaries, ask for help, and build assertiveness - especially when trauma has made these behaviors feel unsafe or unfamiliar.

  • Integrate with other trauma therapies to improve outcomes Combine DBT skills with CBT, EMDR, or other evidence-based trauma approaches to increase client engagement, emotional safety, and overall treatment effectiveness.

illustration of therapy demonstration - validation
Course Format

This self-paced course includes:

  • 13 practical modules focused on applying DBT skills to a range of trauma-related problems

  • Expert instruction with Dr. Melanie Harned

  • Detailed therapy roleplays with diverse client presentations

  • Downloadable resources including worksheets and clinical tools

  • 12 months access to review the material anytime

therapy demonstration with Melanie Harned
Is This Course Right for You?

This course is designed for experienced therapists who:

  • Work with clients struggling with PTSD, trauma, or emotional dysregulation

  • Want to use DBT skills to stabilize clients and support trauma recovery

  • Need practical strategies for managing risk, increasing emotional regulation, and strengthening the therapeutic alliance

  • Value advanced, roleplay-based training grounded in real clinical application

  • Are looking to integrate DBT skills into other evidence-based approaches, such as CBT, EMDR, or ACT.

therapy demonstration - client with red jumper looking hesitant

What You'll Learn

Course Excerpts

 
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How Your Course Works

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Frequently asked questions