DBT Intensive Training is the official and most recognized training program in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), provided by Behavioral Tech, the premier training institute founded by Dr. Marsha Linehan to disseminate DBT in its original, standard form to clinicians and treatment teams worldwide.
For over three decades, DBT Intensive Training has served as the formal entry point for the majority of DBT clinicians and institutions across the globe. It is widely recognized as the foundational training required to implement standard DBT with fidelity.
The 1st DBT Intensive Training in Seoul, led by world-renowned DBT trainers Dr. Tony DuBose, Dr. Jennifer Sayrs, and Dr. Charlie Walton, was successfully completed. Beginning with the DBT Learning Community in July 2023, the program extended over two years, including consultation, Part 1, and Part 2 Intensive Training. Participants experienced the trainers’ exceptional expertise and dedication while engaging deeply with the core principles and practice of DBT.
We are now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 2nd DBT Intensive Training.
2025–2026 2nd DBT Intensive Training
Official Registration Now Open!
Part I: March 16–20, 2026
Part II: March 15–19, 2027
Led by world-class DBT training experts, the DBT Intensive Training
will begin with a structured Pre-session through the DBT Learning Curriculum,
preparing teams prior to Part I.
Participation is limited to eight teams to ensure the highest quality
training experience.
To apply for the DBT Intensive Training, please click the application link below!
DBT Intensive Training Description
Since its initial development in the 1980s, DBT has been shown to be an effective treatment for a wide range of problems related to emotion dysregulation. Individuals who experience severe difficulties in emotion regulation often face complex problems across multiple areas of life, and these difficulties manifest in diverse ways. The scientific principles of DBT were specifically designed to address cases that frequently present therapists with significant clinical challenges. As a principle-driven treatment grounded in empirical research, DBT can be applied flexibly to meet the unique circumstances, cultures, and environments of the individuals it serves. DBT has been studied extensively and implemented in clinical settings in countries around the world.
DBT Intensive Training is a comprehensive team-based program of study designed to provide treatment teams with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement DBT. The program focuses both on establishing a comprehensive DBT program and on developing the clinical competencies required to treat individuals with complex mental health conditions. The Intensive Training includes four hours of specialized content dedicated to the crisis assessment, management, and treatment of suicidal behaviors.
The DBT Intensive Training program is divided into two parts in order to guide participating teams through four essential phases of DBT program development and implementation. Although Part 1 and Part 2 are described separately, they constitute one integrated program of study.
For several decades, DBT Intensive Training has served as the formal, standard training pathway for clinicians implementing DBT in both clinical and research settings across North America, Western countries, and globally. Through this foundational training, participants receive essential clinical education in DBT along with professional consultation. Upon successful completion of the full program, each individual participant receives an official Letter of Completion* issued by Behavioral Tech, which also identifies the participant’s institution. After completing the Intensive Training, clinicians may pursue additional DBT training and advanced educational opportunities.
*This program does not confer DBT certification. Participants who complete all required components of the official training curriculum will receive a Letter of Completion issued by Behavioral Tech. Graduates may indicate completion of DBT Intensive Training on their professional curriculum vitae and in academic publications, and their names and institutional affiliations may be listed on the official DBT KOREA website.
DBT Intensive Training Structure
Part 1 (30 instructional hours)
- Preparation
- Knowledge Acquisition
Part 2 (30 instructional hours)
- Implementation
- Practice Improvement & Sustainability
In Part 1, lectures, treatment demonstrations, and small group exercises are used to teach DBT theory and strategies in depth. During the latter portion of Part 1, participants consolidate and apply what they have learned through structured practice assignments that illustrate and guide the implementation process.
Following Part 1, participating teams design and begin implementing their own comprehensive DBT program or integrate DBT into an existing treatment setting. In Part 2, each team presents how they have implemented DBT in their clinical environment. Teams receive expert consultation on their overall program as well as on specific clinical cases, including discussion of challenges encountered during implementation and review of protocols for adapting DBT appropriately while maintaining fidelity to the model.
DBT Intensive Training is conducted in person for five consecutive days for Part 1, followed approximately one year later by five consecutive days for Part 2. The full program consists of a total of 60 instructional hours delivered across 10 in-person training days.
Prerequisites and Qualifications
DBT Intensive Training is a professional training program designed to provide high-quality education to qualified clinicians seeking to implement DBT with fidelity. Participants must hold a master’s degree or higher in a mental health discipline and must be currently engaged in, or have completed, appropriate clinical training. Because DBT requires an ongoing consultation team in order to be implemented successfully, this workshop is designed for treatment teams. Individual clinicians may participate either by forming their own team prior to the training or by joining a designated DBT team.
This training follows the professional DBT training standards established by Dr. Marsha Linehan for more than 30 years. After submission of the official application, Behavioral Tech may request additional documentation to verify qualifications as part of the review process.
A DBT team (minimum of 3 and maximum of 8 members) is a group of mental health professionals who meet at least weekly in a consultation team to support one another in delivering DBT within their treatment setting. In order to provide the highest quality training experience, Behavioral Tech limits each DBT Intensive Training cohort to a maximum of eight teams. Because enrollment is limited and demand for the Intensive Training is high, each team should carefully discuss and clarify its level of commitment prior to submitting an application. All participants must remain with their designated team throughout the entire duration of the training. In addition, all participants must be actively implementing DBT in their clinical setting prior to the beginning of Part 2 (Practice Improvement & Sustainability). Unless prior arrangements have been made with Behavioral Tech, all participants must complete Part 1 before attending Part 2.
Special Notification for Professionals in Korea
To provide standard DBT in its original form following completion of the Intensive Training, participation as a treatment team is the standard requirement. However, recognizing that clinical environments in Korea differ significantly from those in the United States—and that forming a team of four or more clinicians may be difficult—the DBT Institute of Korea, under the leadership of Dr. Yong Cho, has engaged in extensive discussions with Behavioral Tech to allow individual participation for the Intensive Training conducted in Seoul.
Although participation as a team remains the standard principle of DBT Intensive Training, applicants are strongly encouraged to form a team whenever possible. If forming a team is not feasible, applicants must indicate on the application form that they are applying as an individual participant.
For those who apply individually, the DBT Institute of Korea will assign participants to a designated DBT team. Once assigned, participants must remain with that team for the entire duration of the DBT Intensive Training and may not change teams.
DBT Intensive Training Schedule & Tuition
Dates and Place
Part 1: March 16–20, 2026 (5 days, 30 hours) 08:30-16:30
Part 2: March 15–19, 2027 (5 days, 30 hours) 08:30-17:00
DBT Learning Community*: December 2025 – March 2026
Online Consultation**: March 2026 – March 2027
*Upon completion of official registration and tuition payment, participants will be assigned to a DBT team. After teams are formed, members will coordinate within their team to determine a mutually agreeable schedule for the DBT Learning Community sessions. The DBT Institute of Korea will participate in the Learning Community to support structured preparation prior to the beginning of Part 1.
**Online Consultation consists of six sessions in which participating teams receive consultation from DBT trainers regarding DBT cases and implementation. The fixed training dates are the five in-person days of Part 1 and the five in-person days of Part 2. The schedule for the DBT Learning Community may be arranged flexibly within each team. The specific dates for Online Consultation sessions will be announced at a later time.
Location:
- SETEC Convention Center 3rd Floor, Nanum Seminar Room (Nambusunhwan-ro 3104, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea)
- Online sessions via Microsoft Teams (DBT Learning Community and Online Consultation)
Tuition:
The DBT Intensive Training program includes DBT Learning Community, DBT Intensive Training Part 1 and Part 2, along with 6 online consultation sessions.
Tuition:
- KRW 8,500,000 (Regular price: KRW 9,500,000*)
* Tuition may increase due to exchange rate fluctuations or changes in operating costs.
Payment Deadline: Within one week of submitting the application form.
November 15, 2025 – December 31, 2025*
* The DBT Learning Community will begin in December 2025, prioritizing early registrants. Applicants are encouraged to complete registration by November 30 whenever possible.
2025-2026 DBT Intensive Training in Korea Registration and Consent Form
* Tuition covers the full program, including the DBT Learning Community, Part 1, Part 2, and six Online Consultation sessions conducted jointly by Behavioral Tech and DBT KOREA. Both Part 1 and Part 2 must be completed in order to receive the official Letter of Completion. Registration for Part 2 only is not permitted.
** Detailed schedules may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. Participants will be notified in advance of any changes. If the DBT Intensive Training is postponed or canceled, tuition will be fully refunded.
*** Tuition payment must be made by bank transfer only. Please note that payments are non-refundable except in the case of program cancellation.
**** Institutions will receive an electronic tax invoice. Individual participants will receive a cash receipt upon payment.
Additional Information
- Required Materials: Cognitive Behavior Therapy of Borderline Personality Disorder, DBT Skills Training Manual, Second Edition, DBT Workbook, Second Edition (or revised edition), writing materials, etc.
- For further details, please refer to the Participant Manual.
DBT Intensive Training Trainers
* Faculty subject to change based on Behavioral Tech scheduling.
Tony DuBose, Psy.D.
Dr. Tony DuBose serves as the Chief Training Executive at Behavioral Tech. His interest in DBT began while working with hospitalized adolescents at high risk for suicide and self-injurious behaviors. Observing the effectiveness of DBT in this setting led him to dedicate his professional career to the dissemination and implementation of Dialectical Behavior Therapy.
Since 2011, Dr. DuBose has led Behavioral Tech’s training division, collaborating with some of the world’s foremost DBT experts to advance high-quality training standards. He has played a central role in the development and refinement of large-scale DBT training models that have been translated into multiple languages.
Dr. DuBose has provided training and consultation to mental health professionals worldwide in the treatment of borderline personality disorder, substance use disorders, and suicidal and self-injurious behaviors in both adults and adolescents. He has also contributed to system-wide DBT implementation projects across multiple countries and U.S. states.
He is a member of the International Dissemination and Training Committees of the World Association for Dialectical Behavior Therapy (WDBTA), founded in 2021, and currently serves as Treasurer on the WDBTA Board of Directors. He has been licensed as a psychologist in the State of Washington since 1998 and is certified by the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification (DBT-LBC). He resides in Seattle, Washington.
Dr. DuBose earned his doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Pacific University of Oregon. He completed his predoctoral internship at Western State Hospital in Lakewood, Washington, and his postdoctoral fellowship in Child Clinical Psychology through the University of Washington’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Prior to becoming a psychologist, he earned a Master of Science degree in Counseling from Loyola University of New Orleans and practiced as a family therapist.
From 1997 to 2001, he served as Director of the older adolescent program at the Child Study and Treatment Center, Washington State’s psychiatric hospital for children, where he developed his scholarly interest in suicidal and self-injurious behaviors.
He is a Founding Member and former President & CEO of the Evidence Based Treatment Centers of Seattle and held clinical faculty appointments at the University of Washington’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Psychology from 1998 to 2012. He has collaborated closely with Dr. Marsha Linehan and DBT researchers in advancing DBT dissemination and program development.
Emily Cooney, Ph.D, PGDipClPs
Dr. Emily Cooney is a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience working in inpatient and outpatient settings in the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. She specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy across child, adolescent, and adult populations.
She currently serves as Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago and as Assistant Professor at the Yale University School of Medicine, where she co-leads DBT programs within intensive outpatient settings and substance use disorder treatment teams.
Dr. Cooney participated as a therapist in two DBT clinical research trials led by Dr. Marsha Linehan. As a principal investigator, she conducted feasibility research on DBT skills training for adolescents engaging in self-harm and for men experiencing anger-related difficulties in New Zealand.
She has served as an editorial contributor for the revised editions of the DBT Skills Training Manual and DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets.
Dr. Cooney currently provides DBT training and consultation through Behavioral Tech and DBTNZ. Her current clinical and research focus includes family-centered interventions for individuals experiencing family violence, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behaviors.
Yong Cho, Ph.D.
Dr. Yong Cho is a licensed psychologist in the State of New York and the Founder and Director of the DBT Institute of Korea.
He began his clinical training in 1997 at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York and subsequently completed intensive psychotherapy and DBT training at Zucker Hillside Hospital/Long Island Jewish Medical Center. He completed an APA-accredited internship program and, in the early 2000s, became one of the first clinicians to apply DBT to Korean and Asian American clients experiencing emotion dysregulation, borderline personality disorder, and culture-related syndromes such as Hwa-Byung.
During his tenure in New York, he founded the Asian American Family Clinic within the hospital system to provide culturally responsive psychotherapy services. His work was featured in major media outlets, including The New York Times.
In collaboration with Dr. Marsha Linehan and the Seattle DBT team, Dr. Cho established the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Center of Korea in 2007 under The Tree Group. In 2008, he hosted Dr. Linehan in Seoul for an expert DBT workshop.
Dr. Cho translated into Korean the DBT Skills Training Manual (1st and 2nd editions), DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets (2nd edition), and DBT Skills Training for Adolescents.
In 2023, he founded the DBT Institute of Korea as a professional education institution dedicated to the ethical dissemination of DBT. In 2023–2024, he co-hosted the official DBT Intensive Training in collaboration with Behavioral Tech.
He continues to provide DBT treatment and training to adults, adolescents, parents, and families in both Korean and English.
DBT Intensive Training Primary Learning Objectives
The primary goal of DBT Intensive Training is to ensure that participants are able to implement DBT treatment with fidelity.
- Integrate DBT assumptions regarding the client, the therapist, and treatment into clinical practice.
- Maintain an effective balance between acceptance and change when providing consultation.
- Apply DBT treatment principles and strategies during DBT consultation team meetings.
- Enhance the motivation and competence of clinicians within the consultation team.
- Describe the scientific methods used in developing DBT programs and delivering DBT treatment.
- Use empirical data to engage stakeholders in DBT implementation.
- Apply and implement a dialectical worldview in the treatment process and case formulation.
- Facilitate client engagement through a dialectical balance of acceptance and change.
- Accurately describe the Core Mindfulness skills module.
- Explain the theoretical foundation of DBT Mindfulness skills.
- Describe how Core Mindfulness skills are applied when teaching other DBT skills.
- Explain the Biosocial Theory of borderline personality disorder and the broader therapeutic context necessary for understanding severe mental disorders.
- Conceptualize suicidal behavior as an attempt to solve problems.
- Formulate DBT case conceptualizations incorporating hypotheses based on Dialectical Dilemmas experienced by individuals with borderline personality disorder.
- Accurately describe the Emotion Regulation skills module.
- Describe the empirical support for DBT Emotion Regulation skills.
- Explain the theoretical foundation of Emotion Regulation skills.
- Explain the functions of comprehensive DBT and identify the treatment modalities necessary to fulfill these functions.
- Develop treatment plans and goals according to severity of disorder and stage of treatment.
- Identify clients’ life goals in order to enhance treatment motivation.
- Structure treatment according to modality priorities (individual therapy, skills training, phone coaching).
- Establish a hierarchy of treatment targets for clients with complex problems.
- Complete pretreatment tasks (e.g., goal clarification, DBT orientation, commitment and agreement).
- Describe the key components addressed in individual DBT sessions.
- Structure individual DBT sessions effectively.
- Describe the function of DBT Skills Training.
- Define the roles of Skills Training leaders and co-leaders.
- Explain how to structure a DBT Skills Training class.
- Describe the Interpersonal Effectiveness skills module.
- Describe the empirical support for DBT Interpersonal Effectiveness skills.
- Explain the theoretical foundation of Interpersonal Effectiveness skills.
- Describe the Distress Tolerance skills module.
- Describe the empirical support for DBT Distress Tolerance skills.
- Explain the theoretical foundation of Distress Tolerance skills.
- Define problem behaviors in specific and behavioral terms.
- Conduct Chain Analysis of specific problem behavior episodes.
- Conduct Missing Links Analysis for episodes in which necessary behaviors did not occur.
- Describe DBT problem-solving strategies (Skills Training, Cognitive Modification, Exposure, Contingency Management).
- Generate and evaluate solutions targeting specific links identified through Chain Analysis.
- Describe the application of Validation strategies.
- Implement the stages of Validation.
- Facilitate increased client engagement through a dialectical balance of acceptance and change.
- Apply dialectical strategies in treatment.
- Implement DBT stylistic strategies (e.g., reciprocal communication and irreverent communication).
- Conduct both short-term and long-term suicide risk assessments.
- Engage clients in a manner that facilitates suicide risk assessment.
- Describe the steps included in crisis management strategies.
- Apply the DBT suicide protocol.
- Respond appropriately whenever suicidal behavior occurs during treatment.
- Provide consultation to support skill generalization across relevant contexts.
- Assist clients in applying specific skills more effectively to achieve desired outcomes.
- Support clients in using skills that are difficult for them to apply.
- Apply DBT case management strategies.
- Maintain balance between client consultation and environmental intervention in case management.
- Explain the importance of recognizing personal and professional limits in DBT.
- Describe the stages of therapist limit-setting.
- Engage clients in a manner that facilitates suicide risk evaluation.
- Apply empirically supported protocols during suicide crises.
- Identify DBT skills appropriate to specific situations and problem contexts together with clients.
- Structure DBT consultation team meetings effectively.
- Use DBT principles and empirical reasoning in consultation decision-making.
- Discuss the Part I examination and demonstrate improved understanding of core DBT concepts.
- Review assigned practice homework and discuss how it enhances clinical application.
- Design DBT services appropriately based on institutional context and client population.
- Balance adaptation and adoption effectively when implementing DBT.
- Utilize outcome variables to enhance program sustainability.
- Conceptualize clinical cases and problems from a DBT perspective.
- Include central emotional processes in case formulation.
- Integrate treatment planning, intervention, and measurement iteratively in DBT case formulation.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply core DBT concepts through behavioral rehearsal.
- Conduct DBT case formulation from a behavioral perspective.
- Actively participate in DBT consultation teams.
- Set goals and manage time effectively during consultation meetings.
- Maintain balance between acceptance and change when providing consultation.
- Conduct case formulation from a transactional perspective incorporating interactions between individual and environmental systems.
- Incorporate the Biosocial Theory into DBT case formulation.
- Conceptualize suicidal behavior as an attempt to solve problems.
- Develop treatment plans and goals according to severity of disorder and stage of treatment.
- Link specific client goals with long-term life goals.
- Connect clients’ long-term goals with therapeutic tasks.
- Organize treatment sessions according to modality priorities (individual therapy, skills training, phone coaching).
- Establish long-term and short-term treatment goals prior to initiating therapy and address potential barriers for both therapist and client.
- Define problem behaviors behaviorally and concretely.
- Identify significant variables influencing problem behaviors.
- Clarify the elements necessary to support the five functions of comprehensive DBT.
- Evaluate whether all five functions of comprehensive DBT are addressed within the program.
- Differentiate between Chain Analysis and Solution Analysis.
- Conduct Solution Analysis.
- Identify interventions targeting significant controlling variables.
- Select and propose specific DBT skills appropriate to particular contexts.
- Apply DBT problem-solving strategies (Skills Training, Cognitive Modification, Exposure, Contingency Management).
- Evaluate the use of DBT strategies in one’s own or other clinicians’ cases.
- Describe the relationship between primary and secondary targets.
- Determine when to prioritize secondary targets (Dialectical Dilemmas).
- Identify barriers interfering with achievement of secondary targets.
- Maintain balance between client consultation and environmental intervention in case management.
- Apply DBT case management strategies (client consultation and environmental intervention).
- Address barriers interfering with DBT program implementation and develop solutions.
- Demonstrate the ability to evaluate DBT strategy application across cases.
- Review expert demonstration sessions (e.g., video materials) to refine strategic understanding and application.
- Practice DBT techniques through behavioral rehearsal based on expert consultation.
- Provide consultation that offers effective and contextually appropriate solutions.
- Apply learning from consultation team meetings to clinical practice.
- Apply DBT principles and strategies discussed in consultation meetings.
- Use DBT strategies to address and resolve team-level challenges.
- Strengthen consultation teams using DBT interventions.
- Clarify the anticipated long-term outcomes of each DBT program.
- Identify appropriate measurement tools to evaluate DBT program outcomes.
