Building Commitment from a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Perspective
Description
Changing long-lasting behavior is no easy feat, and can be especially challenging when working to help clients build commitment, intention and drive to change chronic, maladaptive behaviors. As providers, we are frequently asking clients to face thoughts, emotions, or situations they fear, to “give up” or change behaviors that are getting in the way of their goals though provide them immediate relief/coping (e.g., self-harm, substance use), and work towards building lives worth living even though they may feel hopeless (especially if they have been through many psychotherapies before with little progress). From a dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) perspective, commitment to therapy and treatment goals is not a simple yes/no “just do it” vocalization, but is viewed as a cluster of thoughts, intentions, verbalizations, and actions throughout the therapy process that are important to strengthen and maintain. This webinar will focus on understanding and teaching commitment strategies from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (Linehan, 1993) which can help strengthen clients resolve and commitment. It will also introduce stylistic strategies (reciprocal communication, irreverent communication), or in other words how the therapist communicates and uses strategies (e.g., style, tone, responsiveness).
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
- Define commitment/how the process of commitment to therapy or behavior change is conceptualized
- Practice at least 2 commitment strategies to use with clients
Instructor Bio
Julia Brillante, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist at the Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy and currently teaches the Fundamentals of DBT course at Rutgers GSAPP. Dr. Brillante specializes in working with children, teens and families who struggle with anxiety, depression, mood dysregulation, self harm and/or suicidal thoughts and behavior, and coping with trauma. She has expertise in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), as well as extensive training in interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for adolescents with depression. Dr. Brillante is passionate about working with bicultural and multiracial families to address concerns including discrimination based on identities, and exploring one’s individual values while navigating cultural expectations. She is committed to using evidence-based techniques, coupled with a compassionate and collaborative approach that helps individuals and families build lives worth living.
Dr. Brillante earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP), with a concentration in children, adolescents & families, and her clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. She was intensively trained in DBT through Behavioral Tech, and completed specialized training at Cognitive & Behavioral Consultants (CBC) and Zucker Hillside Hospital/Long Island Jewish Medical Center’s Adolescent Inpatient Unit. Dr. Brillante is licensed to provide services to clients residing in New Jersey, New York, and all PSYPACT participating States.
Dr. Brillante has no coflicts of interest for this webinar.
Contact Us
For questions, please contact: ce@gsapp.rutgers.edu
Continuing Education Policy:
Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0123.
LMFT/MFT and LPC/LAC Licensed in New Jersey: Programs approved by the American Psychological Association are acceptable sources of continuing education credits. Please see https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/regulations/Chapter-34-Subchapters-10-31-Professional-Counselors.pdf, Section: 13:34-15.4 APPROVAL OF COURSES OR PROGRAMS on page 27. For all other professional licenses and certifications, please reference your issuing state board regulations regarding reciprocity of continuing education credits.
Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content