Available now
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills: An Overview for Clinicians
4-hour self-study CE course
Clear questions, no tricks. Scout points out the key concepts so you can pass and get back to your clients.
CE hours
4
Format
Self-study (reading)
Post-test
15 questions, 70% to pass
Price
$9
About this course
This course is an educational overview of DBT skills. It is not DBT training, is not affiliated with or endorsed by Behavioral Tech Institute or the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, and does not qualify anyone to provide comprehensive DBT or to call their services DBT. Comprehensive DBT includes individual therapy, skills training, phone coaching, and a consultation team. Clinicians who wish to provide DBT should seek intensive training and consultation.
This course presents DBT skills and the research on them, including its debates, and does not endorse or reject DBT.
This course is for licensed clinicians and associates in California, Oregon (LPC and LMFT), Texas, and Washington who want an accurate working knowledge of the DBT skills and the research on them. Topics:
- Where DBT came from, the biosocial theory, and the four modes of comprehensive DBT
- Mindfulness: wise mind and the “what” and “how” skills
- Distress tolerance: STOP, TIPP (with its medical caution), and radical acceptance
- Emotion regulation: check the facts, opposite action, and ABC PLEASE
- Interpersonal effectiveness: DEAR MAN, GIVE, and FAST
- How skills are taught: the skills group, diary cards, and chain analysis at a conceptual level
- A “Critical appraisal: both sides” section, including trials where DBT did no better than a strong comparison
- Using single skills in general practice, when to refer to comprehensive DBT, and honest advertising
The core content applies in every state; state law appears only in one labeled note. Nine sections, with worked cases, FAQs, and key points. Color and Print Friendly PDFs. $9.
CE credit is awarded after you complete the reading, pass the post-test at 70% or higher, and complete the evaluation.
Learning objectives
A sample of what you will be able to do after completing this course:
- Describe the biosocial theory, the four modes of comprehensive DBT, and what this overview does and does not qualify a clinician to do.
- Explain wise mind and distinguish the DBT mindfulness "what" skills from the "how" skills.
- Distinguish crisis survival skills from reality acceptance skills, and identify the medical caution attached to TIPP.
- Explain check the facts and apply opposite action and ABC PLEASE to case examples.
- Match DEAR MAN, GIVE, and FAST to objectives, relationship, and self-respect goals.
- Summarize the evidence for comprehensive DBT and skills-only formats, and explain the main criticisms using the same standards.
- Describe responsible use of single DBT skills in general practice and list indicators for referral to comprehensive DBT.
- Apply scope of competence, honest advertising, and informed consent standards to the use of DBT skills.
Who this course is for
Target audience: licensed mental health clinicians and registered associates in California, Oregon (LPC and LMFT), Texas, and Washington, including LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, LPC, LMHC, LEP, AMFT, ASW, and APCC.
Course schedule
Self-study. Self-paced reading with a post-test. No fixed calendar dates. Allow about 4 hours of CE time.
Provider approval period for John Oliver Ycaro, CAMFT CEPA Provider #10072759: June 15, 2026 through June 1, 2027 (renew as required to keep offering CE).
Instructor
John Oliver Ycaro, LPCC (also the course developer and CE provider). About 10 years of clinical experience in community mental health and private practice. Expertise relevant to this course: outpatient clinical work with individuals, couples, and families in community mental health and private practice.
Under CAMFT CEPA rules, the named instructor meets instructor qualifications by current related licensure and a related master’s degree (and related practice experience). A current CV is kept in the provider’s CE records.
How it works
- Enroll through the secure Payhip checkout. You get the course right away.
- Read the self-study text at your own pace.
- Take the online post-test (70% to pass; retakes free) and confirm you did the work yourself.
- Complete a short course evaluation (required for CE credit).
- Receive your certificate by email within 1 business day after you pass and complete the evaluation.
Completion records are kept for at least 4 years.
Price
$9
Pay securely on Payhip. CE credit is awarded after you complete the reading, pass the post-test at 70% or higher, and complete the evaluation.
CE information
Course meets the qualifications for 4 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
John Oliver Ycaro is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. John Oliver Ycaro maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.
- CAMFT Provider #: 10072759
- Instructor: John Oliver Ycaro, LPCC
- Format: Self-study (reading), with an online post-test
- CE hours: 4
- Passing score: 70%
- Certificate: Emailed within 1 business day after you pass the post-test and complete the evaluation, as a PDF you can print or save
- Cost: $9
Licensed outside California? Offered by a CAMFT CEPA-approved provider (#10072759). Washington, Texas, and Oregon do not pre-approve CE providers; this course is designed to meet their general CE rules (WAC 246-809-610; 22 TAC 681.140 and 801.261; OAR 833-080-0041). In Oregon, this applies to LPCs and LMFTs only. It does not satisfy any state’s specific mandated topic. Check with your board.
Provider mailing address: 200 San Mateo Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Policies
Refunds / cancellation
You can get a full refund within 3 days of purchase as long as you haven't started the post-test. After you start the post-test, or after 3 days, we’re not able to offer a refund.
Accommodations
If you need a disability accommodation (for example a screen-reader-friendly file, larger print, or extra time on the post-test), email oliverycaro@losgatosmentalhealthclinic.com. We respond within 5 business days. There is no charge for accommodations.
Grievances
If you have a concern about the course, email oliverycaro@losgatosmentalhealthclinic.com. You will get a written response within 14 days. If it is not resolved, you can contact CAMFT at cepa@camft.org.
Activities not for CE credit
CE credit is awarded after you complete the reading, pass the post-test at 70% or higher, and complete the evaluation.
About the instructor and provider
John Oliver Ycaro, LPCC, is in private practice in California and has about 10 years of experience in community mental health and private practice.
Disclosure: John Oliver Ycaro is the instructor, course developer, and CE provider and earns income from course sales.