Institute for Creative Mindfulness

Friday, October 30, 2026

9:00am-4:30pm EST

ABOUT THE COURSE

Updated offering of this popular course, offered again in real-time online for the first time in 5 years!

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive mindfulness-informed intervention for addressing emotional dysregulation as it manifests in a variety of diagnoses. DBT can be used as a stand-alone intervention, or its numerous components (particularly the skills) can be utilized within a comprehensive paradigm of trauma focused care. DBT skills have long been integrated alongside EMDR therapy, especially in Preparation (Phase 2). In this course, participants will gain deeper insight into just how much DBT and EMDR have in common, and consider a richer array of applications for how one can support the other. Participants will learn and apply a multitude of DBT skills and concepts alongside EMDR therapy Phases 2, 7, and 8. Explore how DBT skills and concepts can assist EMDR therapists to work with complicated scenarios related to abreaction, dissociation, and complex trauma within Phases 3-6 of the standard EMDR protocol. Connections between AIP and biosocial theory (DBT) also highlighted, with implications for client history (Phase 1) and case conceptualization explored. Several case studies of how DBT skills were successfully integrated into EMDR therapy are explored throughout the presentation drawing on the presenters’ clinical experiences.

Attendance at the entire event is required to receive CE. No partial credit can be given.

By Registering for this Training, You Acknowledge and Agree to the Following:

• Attendance: Your presence at the entire training is required at all sessions, on video, as an attendance verification. No partial credit can be awarded. You have read our EMDR Therapy Training information page prior to registering. Please also note that by taking the training in this online format, you will be required to take a quiz following the second part of the training, per EMDRIA guidelines.

• Refund/Cancellation Policy: You have read and agree to ICM's Organizational Policies, which stipulate the terms for refunds, cancellations, and resolving grievances and disputes.

• Correspondence from Training Organization: The Institute for Creative Mindfulness regularly sends correspondence about the training, including an email confirmation at registration and several emails leading up to each training. The emails presently come from [email protected]. Additionally, The Institute for Creative Mindfulness may send out emails from [email protected]. If you are not receiving these emails, you are required to check your Spam folder as correspondence from new organizations often ends up there. Once you receive your first correspondence, please save the email to your address book. If you have not received a confirmation email or other correspondence from the organization within seven days of the event, it is your responsibility to reach out to us by email or phone.

• Professionalism: You will show up on time and be fully present for each session, acting in a professional manner. You will reach out to your faculty member or any assistants if any unexpected problems arise. Staying present for online learning can come with its unique set of challenges, and you agree to take full responsibility for addressing your needs in the area of grounding and self-care during the training. You agree to refrain from all alcohol and illicit drug use during the training and agree to speak with your faculty member or an assistant if you anticipate that your impairment due to prescribed medications might pose a problem during the training. The faculty and staff reserve the right to remove trainees at any time if the trainee creates an unsafe or unprofessional environment for you or for other trainees, or for any other reason, at their sole discretion.

• Confidentiality: There is no client relationship or other privilege that would create a duty rising to the level of clinical confidentiality in this training setting; however, you are expected to respect the confidentiality of other trainees in the group, and your trainer will explain the importance of confidentiality. Trainees who observe a problem with another trainee are expected to bring the problem to the lead trainer or other training staff. Similarly, if a staff member observes an issue with professionalism, they reserve the right to discuss that issue with the lead trainer.

• Preparedness for Doing Your Own Work: Throughout the training, you will be expected to participate in a working practicum experience in the role of therapist, client, and observer. This means that you will be expected to do a small piece of your own, authentic clinical work. If you are currently in counseling or being treated for a mental health condition, it is recommended that you speak with your provider, alerting them that you are participating in the training. If you have received a major mental health diagnosis (past or present), you acknowledge that you are taking this training and engaging in this practicum at your own risk, and agree to alert faculty or training staff before or during the training if any complications arise. You acknowledge that everyone taking part in the practicum experience is new to EMDR therapy and agree to keep the space as safe as possible for all involved. If any problems arise, you agree to address them with faculty or staff members.

Email [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

Objectives

After this course, participants will be able to:

1. Discuss the history of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), theoretical perspectives, skills, interventions, and framework

2. Compare and contrast the biosocial theory of emotions (DBT) with the adaptive information processing (AIP) model of EMDR

3. Discuss applications of this comparison/contrast to Phase 1 (Client History) in EMDR and overall case conceptualization

4. Teach 5-7 DBT skills to clients, as well as giving and reviewing meaningful homework assignments

5. Integrate these skills into EMDR therapy Phases 2 & 7 and implement homework into Phase 7 & 8

6. Apply DBT skills related to grounding, mindfulness, and distress tolerance in navigating difficult situations in EMDR therapy (e.g., dissociation, abreaction, complex PTSD)

7. Increase confidence in ability to identify and solve common problems in clinical treatment through a fusion of the DBT and EMDR therapy frameworks