Becoming competitive for a DBT internship

[cara susanna]

Hi all,

So, as you may or may not know, I am hoping to eventually practice DBT. Unfortunately, my program does not offer training in it. Since DBT is so comprehensive, I've decided that my best option is to probably pursue an internship specializing in it, then a post-doc. But, I am wondering what I can do to make myself competitive for that kind of internship. People have suggested I attend the workshops. Do you guys think that's enough, or is there more that you think I should do? I'm trying to get an idea early enough in my training that I can make sure to achieve what I need.

Oh, and I've checked the internship websites--they don't specify specific requirements or suggestions, unless I'm looking in the wrong places.

Thanks!

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[Psych528]

I would recommend attending the workshops too and joining associations related to DBT. These would be good additions to your CV. Also, see if you can combine DBT into any of your research projects. There are places that give intensive training on DBT--a google search and/or looking into the DBT related associations would be a good start. Talk to people/professors who use it, whether they are in your program or not, for advice. I think the internship/post doc are both good ideas to gain experience. I hope this helps

 

[TheIceman79]

I would suggest workshops as well (http://behavioraltech.org/training/) and some therapy and advanced therapy practicum placements emphasize DBT.

 

[futureapppsy2]

^
Yes--can you try to aim specifically for practica where you would be getting DBT training/experience? Talk to your DCT about this--a lot of the students here seem to have specific desires for sites (populations, training modalities, etc), and they usually work with the DCT to try to locate specific sites that meet their needs.

 

[aagman01]

Seek out an off-site practicum placement that has someone who is trained in DBT and can provide supervision in DBT.

Hi all,

So, as you may or may not know, I am hoping to eventually practice DBT. Unfortunately, my program does not offer training in it. Since DBT is so comprehensive, I've decided that my best option is to probably pursue an internship specializing in it, then a post-doc. But, I am wondering what I can do to make myself competitive for that kind of internship. People have suggested I attend the workshops. Do you guys think that's enough, or is there more that you think I should do? I'm trying to get an idea early enough in my training that I can make sure to achieve what I need.

Oh, and I've checked the internship websites--they don't specify specific requirements or suggestions, unless I'm looking in the wrong places.

Thanks!

 

[cara susanna]

Yeah, problem is there aren't any around here. I'd have to travel and do it without pay, which I don't mind of course, but it does complicate things.

Thanks for the input everyone 😀

 

[futureapppsy2]

You've probably already looked into to this, but would a hospital (psych or general psych ward) be an option? You may get a lot of people with BPD there and thereof also get exposure to/training in DBT.

 

[ClinicalTrainee]

I also think that you can use many of the components of DBT even without a DBT-specific practica or supervision. ABCT this year was focused on transdiagnostic issues and emotion regulation was definitely up there. In fact, there is an in-press article in Clinical Psych Review I just saw this afternoon on transdiagnostic issues in emotion regulation.

There are workbooks for using DBT skills (distress tolerance, mindfulness/acceptance, interpersonal effectiveness, etc.) for specific populations. There is so much overlap between DBT, CBT, ACT and EFT (Emotion-focused therapy) that you should have the opportunity to learn some of those skills outside a full DBT treatment team. I mean, without an organized "full" DBT practica, you won't necessarily get the team meetings, the skills group along with individual therapy, the populations most often associated with DBT (BPD), or the training in how to be "irreverant" in session, but you can work on some of the basics. In my opinion, some of it is getting familiar with the lingo (e.g. "emotion mind") that may be specific to DBT but the concepts often cut across theoretical orientations.

I've found some of the DBT skills really critical in working with clients, because cognitive restructuring just isn't viable when someone is so emotionally dysregulated they can't think straight. Of course, I am not doing manualized protocol therapy and I also have supervisers who are willing to listen to my reports of lit searches and let me try things that seem to have some empirical support.

If you can show a solid foundation in CBT when applying to internship and some theoretical knowledge of DBT (like when you have the opportunity to choose your own topic for course papers--choose something on DBT), my guess is you'll be fine.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

If you can show a solid foundation in CBT when applying to internship and some theoretical knowledge of DBT (like when you have the opportunity to choose your own topic for course papers--choose something on DBT), my guess is you'll be fine.

+1.

That is what I did. I was able to secure a rotation that utilizes a DBT-informed treatment model, which I have since been able to pull concepts from for my individual cases.