DBT-LBC’s Post

📢 Exciting News! 🌟 I am thrilled to share some personal feedback I have received about my journey with training Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills. When I first learned about DBT, I was the sulky mental health nurse sitting at the back of the room, unamused and unconvinced by it all. However, over the years, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible power and life-changing abilities of DBT and its skills. Whilst it’s now been a long time since I have been part of a structured DBT service, using skills to support emotional regulation in independent practice. It has been awe-inspiring to see clients, who were once at their lowest points, completely transform their lives using DBT informed skills. Witnessing their growth and resilience has been nothing short of remarkable. What truly validates my passion for skills coaching is when people comment on my training style, approach, and the examples I share - all from my own practice experience. It is mind-blowing to think that the nurse who initially didn't want to be there now has the privilege to stand up and talk about something I have grown to love. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the journey of others and continue spreading awareness about the incredible potential of DBT, several people who have been in my training have now gone on to source more formal training and many others now integrate skills coaching into their general practice. Together, we can create a positive impact and empower individuals to live their best lives. #DBT #SkillsForTransformation #PassionToEmpower #LifeChangingJourney

Join us this #ThankfulThursday in celebrating Dr. Sarah Immerman, Psy.D. Dr. Immerman is the Director of Family Services and Assistant Director of Day Program at DBT Works in Concord, MA. When Dr. Immerman was asked “Why Does Certification Matter?” Dr. Immerman shared” I want to be providing DBT with integrity. I wanted to be sure that I was actually doing what I was claiming to be doing. Certification was an enriching process; I loved that there were multiple components –conceptualization, demonstration of mindfulness practice, written exam, and adherence coding. I found the experience rewarding and fun.” Dr. Immerman shared the best advice she has received, “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. I was skeptical about working with parents and families, but once I learned how to do it, I fell in love with it. Take risks with tons of support from people who know what they’re doing! It’s worth it.” When asked “What Is Your Favorite Skill To Teach and Practice?” Dr. Immerman shared “I love coming back to the mindfulness skill of describe; both with the teens and young adults, and with the parents I work with. I love the simple question “what do you mean by that?” to help people be less judgmental and more descriptive. It’s a skill that I have found remarkably helpful in my own life, and love watching people fall in love with it over time too.” Dr. Immerman shared how she manages burn out. “One of the ways I manage burnout is maintaining real and thoughtful relationships with the other clinicians on my team. It’s clinically useful to have fun together! We make sure to care about each other as people, not only as fellow DBT clinicians and teammates. It’s meaningful, helpful, and tons of fun.” Finally, Dr, Immerman shared some fun facts about herself. “I sing in choirs, I’m an active member of my religious community, I journal regularly, I write and record music, and I teach courses for NEABPD’s Family Connections. I also love photography and making photobooks! It’s incredibly important to have a meaningful life both at and outside of work.” Congratulations on Certification, Dr. Sarah Immerman, Psy.D! #dbt #dbtlbc #certificationmatters www.DBTWorks.com @dbtworks

Join us this #ThankfulThursday in celebrating Julia Costabilo, CRC, LCPC, E-RYT. Julia is a staff therapist and the Eating Disorders Team Lead at the Chicago DBT Institute located in Chicago, IL. When asked “Why Does Certification Matter?” Julia shared "Certification matters because it demonstrates that I care about outcomes and that I am committed to providing DBT services with adherence and a higher level of expertise. The certification process helped me to conceptualize my work with clients from start to finish. It challenged me to help my clients truly visualize what would make their lives worth living so that I could better collaborate with them about things that might be getting in the way of their vision. It also gave me a roadmap to follow for effectively working toward both change and acceptance when working with people who present with multiple diagnoses and target behaviors that can be quite challenging.” Julia shared the best advise she has been given. “The best advice that I got was from my colleague and friend who told me "You are already living a DBT life. Trust yourself." “To this day, I find that helping my clients to trust themselves is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. I love witnessing how profoundly people can change by trusting themselves for perhaps the first time ever.” Julia was asked “What Is Your Favorite Skill to Teach?” She shared “My favorite DBT skill to learn and teach is non-judgmental stance. Once I understood this skill, I was able to grasp all of the other skills DBT has to offer.” When asked how she manages burnout she shared. “Our team holds us accountable weekly for recognizing and addressing burnout. However, I find that our boss demonstrates this best by living her life outside of the office. Observing her make time for things she loves and coming back to work with stories about how she has refueled herself helps me to see the value in planning and committing to the same.” Finally, Julia shared a few fun facts about herself. “I am an experienced registered yoga teacher (E-RYT). My practice is my passion. I will talk your ear off about yoga if you let me. We can still be friends if you are not a yogi, but we will be better friends if you are!" Congratulations on Certification, Julia Costabilo, CRC, LCPC, E-RYT #dbt #dbtlbc #certificationmatters www.cdbti.com

I am here to share my personal journey and connection with this community. Growing up in a family where my mother instilled strength in me, she supported me through challenges without categorizing me. Despite receiving medication and undergoing therapy for anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, specific phobias, dyslexia, and later identified as ASD, my mother chose not to label me. I navigated through brain scans, therapy, and school struggles, often feeling like an outsider due to my intelligence and intense emotions. Coping with fears and bullying, I adapted by masking my true self rather than embracing it. Self-acceptance was a journey I embarked on, learning to balance being funny, awkward, and struggling to fit in. Despite excelling in sports and academics, I faced difficulties with exams and simple tasks. My experience reflects the challenges of a mind that processes information intensely, holding onto details due to OCD. Sharing this story, I aim to convey the power it has for effective change. I began sharing my journey, this year, after serving as an RBT in this field for nearly seven years. I've encountered many instances where people have commented on my intelligence, expressing surprise at my knowledge and questioning why I haven't passed my BCBA exam. I've faced inquiries about my failures, the timing of my next attempt, and even hurtful remarks like being called "stupid" for not passing the BCBA exam. I am grateful for discovering behavior analysis seven years ago and for the knowledge I've gained. I've come to understand that it's acceptable to be highly intelligent yet struggle with a test, to think outside the box, and to embrace my talents, despite what others may have advised my parents to suppress. Despite achieving a 4.0 in my master's program passing the actual BCBA exam has been a challenge. Challenge is a word I am most comfortable with though. This field #ABA has opened my eyes to the struggles our clients face in receiving proper care. Witnessing unethical practices has put me in difficult positions where reporting becomes necessary. Observing the impact of inadequate leadership, RBT care from lack of training, and negative work culture cultivates failure not success. How can we not cherish this field and strive for its improvement? People who require this care have been let down, sparking a need for substantial change. ABA continues to progress, and I take pride in contributing even if it goes unnoticed. Advocating isn't an easy journey, and the disappointment when change doesn't occur is palpable. #ABA deserves the respect for those of us who are practicing for real change, empowering our individuals and allowing them to be #unapologetic of who they are. Sharing my story is the start for me as I am learning that is where I begin to love who I am. Becoming hashtag #unapologeticallyme while demonstrating a strong work ethic and integrity at 100% at all times still exist. Do not ever lose hope #bethevoice

The last couple of years have been ROUGH for the professional field of applied behavior analysis. And- if you’re in the field, you know what I mean.  My colleague Daphna El-Roy, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA and I were recently published in ABA International publication Behavior Analysis in Practice (BAP) where we honor and amplify the lived experiences of ABA professionals, shedding light on how some of the “hot topics” in current practice, like compassion and collaboration, are rooted in #aba history. It’s simply a misnomer to think otherwise or to root the challenges only in individual people.  This article will change how you think about our profession at the macro level. I think as you read, it can also Validate your experiences. The research paper is fully #openaccess so please read and share generously!!!  Kristina Gasiewski Mary Jane Weiss Leah Gross Brett DiNovi, BCBA Bridget Taylor Kristina Marrone Lina Slim, PhD, BCBA-D, CCC-SLP Amanda Sarafian, EdD, OTR/L Daphna El-Roy, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA Keri Giordano https://lnkd.in/erBksUM3

Implicit bias training helps uncover and challenge unconscious biases that influence our perceptions and actions. Unlike explicit biases, which are conscious and articulated, implicit biases are hidden mental shortcuts shaped by our experiences. These biases can affect decisions, leading to unfair outcomes. Training programs, used by companies and required in some professions, raise awareness and provide tools to manage biases. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential for fostering fairness and inclusivity. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g3RpP3am #ImplicitBias #UnconsciousBias #BiasTraining

We are here in Tucker for the third day of our Forensic Peer Mentor and Peer Mentor Annual Training, where we all come together from across the state for a week of learning, connecting, growing, healing, relaxing and being our whole, full selves amongst our peers; or, as our conference theme puts it more succinctly, we are here to “Relax, Realign, and Recommit.” It is that commitment—both the individual commitment and that shared amongst the team—that is most striking. There are enough forensic/peer mentors in the group with significant lived experience as peer mentors at GMHCN that the continuing education has taken on a slightly different tone. In years past, they have come eager to learn and get better at the solemn tasks set before them. They have shared events, experiences, feelings, and understandings in the past, but this year the group has passed a milestone, and that loose collection of events, experiences, feelings and understandings has solidified into a shared body of knowledge among the mentors, a living resource they all contribute to and borrow from. They are no longer being only taught—they are teaching. This is what mental health recovery looks like! This is what leadership and community look like! This is what it looks like when we are given the opportunity to develop the skills and tools we need to heal and transform ourselves, and the time and space to maintain the personal and collective wellness needed to support our peers. We are all mighty grateful. The Forensic Peer Mentor and Peer Mentor Annual Training is a workforce development initiative made possible through a contract with the GGeorgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Learn more about how DBHDD is working to improve the lives of Georgians, our families, and our communities. #hope #ForensicPeerMentors #resilience #community #peersupport #certifiedpeerspecialists #teamwork #mentalhealthrecovery #MentalHealthMatters #mentalhealthawareness #GMHCN #GARecovers

Presenting: Decolonizing Supervision: An Approach Rooted in Ancestral Wisdom⁣ Date/Location:⁣ November 8th, 2024 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM CST (Virtual Training)⁣ 3 CE Credits⁣ ⁣ Trainer:⁣ Alyssa Cedillo, LPC-S, RPT-S™️⁣ Learn more about Alyssa at https://lnkd.in/gCVy5Q5f ⁣ In many cases, the "Western" psychological framework of health, when imposed on individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, can deepen stigmatization, shame, and disrupt family and community bonds. It's essential to question how this system may inadvertently perpetuate disconnection, especially when training the next generation of healers.⁣ ⁣ As supervisors, our responsibility goes beyond meeting board standards. We are entrusted with guiding our associates in discovering their identities and aspirations as healers. The way we nurture growth, engage with trainees, and shape their journey impacts not only the quality of healing available to our communities but also the trust our associates place in us.⁣ ⁣ This training will explore how to break cycles of harm within our communities by shifting from top-down to bottom-up approaches in supervision. We’ll examine how to support supervisees in ethical healing practices and address the wounds inflicted by their academic experiences. Emphasis will be placed on moving from power hoarding to power-sharing, unlearning oppressive practices, and fostering collaborative, non-exploitative relationships. Decolonizing supervision requires an ongoing commitment to power, knowledge, and relationship reformation for mental health professionals committed to ethical and anti-oppressive practices.⁣ ⁣ Sign up today at: https://lnkd.in/g2gNgBYH ⁣ ⁣ #workshop #treeoflifeconselingcentersa #cetraining #satx #community #professionalcounselor #sanantoniocounseling #therapist #chicanatherapist #advocate #decolonizeyourmind #decolonizementalhealth #decolonizeeverything #bodiesofculture #ancestrialwisdom

How many of you experience stress at work? Most of us, right? And if you work in the field of ABA Therapy, you know it can be tiring and stressful. Good thing is, there are many proactive strategies you can utilize to manage your stress. Stress management is part of our DNA at Healing Haven, so check out our newest blog post to learn practical ways that will help you be the best Behavior Technician or BCBA you can be > https://lnkd.in/dTFY5yKb #abatherapy #bcba #behaviortechnician #rbt #abaresources #stressmanagement #selfcare #abaprofessionals

Join Bianca Coleman, Ph. D., NCSP, BCBA-D from Behavior Therapy Associates during her webinar on the important topic of "Self Care: Strategies to prevent burnout for social workers and other providers in the school setting." Date/Time: March 5, 2024 @ 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST Location: Webinar Educators, especially case managers, social workers, learning consultants, psychologists, BCBAs, and administrators are typically tasked with multiple roles and responsibilities and large caseloads, which may contribute to high levels of compassion fatigue and stress. This webinar will discuss the signs of excessive stress and burnout, as well as psychological barriers that may be encountered when attempting to break the cycle of burnout. Concrete strategies will be provided for successfully implementing and monitoring self-care plans. Click the link below to register. https://lnkd.in/dhjUNT7s #selfcare #compassionatecare #burnout #mentalhealth