Levels of Qualification:
- Local Therapists
- Local Trainers (some of whom will become applicants)
- Level 1 EDBTA Trainers in Training (who are bilingual in their native language and English/and/or language of the mentor)
- Level 2 EDBTATrainers
- Local Adherence Coder
Local Therapists:
- The National DBT Associations will approve Local DBT-Therapists. It’s recommended (not required) that the National DBT Associations take into account the WDBTA Suggested Training domains when constructing or evaluating training for local therapists.
- The EDBTA will seek to create an independent accreditation board for national associations who wish to have their therapist certification processes or training processes recognized at the European level.
Local Trainers who will train in native language:
- Certification of local trainers will be by the National DBT Associations.
- Local Trainers may trained by Level 1 or Level 2 EDBTA Trainers.
- Local Trainers are certified to train local therapists according to the EDBTA guidelines and prepare the local therapists to be certified by the National DBT Associations.
The following are recommendations about standards that National Associations can use to set up therapist accreditation/certification standards. These are not requirements and it is important to emphasize that National Associations have complete autonomy in the process.
Qualifications to be approved by the National DBT Associations (recommendations):
- Experienced credentialed therapist or mental health practitioner: a. Required registrations, accreditations, licenses, etc.;
- Demonstrated adherence to the treatment a. Certified by DBT-LBC, Society for DBT in the UK and Ireland, DDBT (Germany) or by a certified native speaking Adherence Coder (either DBT ACS or DBT AC I);
- Participates in DBT program/consultation team, delivering comprehensive DBT attending team weekly;
- Conducts DBT related work for a minimum of 1.5 days per week (as therapist, skills trainer, team leader, teacher, researcher);
- Individual therapy: has practiced for minimum of two years, treating a minimum of 10 cases;
- Skills trainer: has taught skills training for more than one year; has taught full curriculum at least twice;
- DBT teacher: has taught DBT locally—in consultation team, seminars, local region;
- Has training in behaviour therapy;
- Engages in regular mindfulness practice;
- Is up to date regarding research findings in DBT, populations for whom DBT is a recommended treatment, suicide, and suicide prevention and treatment; and
- Attend national or international meetings on DBT and related topics to stay current on research and clinical updates.
Level 1 – EDBTA trainers in training
Level 1 EDBTA Trainers-in-Training are required to apply to EDBTA and obtain approval confirming that they meet the established prerequisites. EDBTA Trainers in Training are trained by Level 2 EDBTA Trainers. Level 1 EDBTA Trainers in Training will be certified by the EDBTA to train both Local Trainers in their native language and to directly provide DBT training to Local Therapists.
Prerequisite to be approved by EDBTA as Level 1 EDBTA Trainer in Training (Required):
- Recommendation by a National DBT Association;
- Experienced credentialed therapist or mental health practitioner: a. Required registrations, accreditations, licenses, etc.;
- Demonstrated adherence to the treatment a. Certified by DBT-LBC, Society for DBT in the UK and Ireland, DDBT (Germany) or by a certified native speaking Adherence Coder according the DBT ACS or DBT ACI;
- Participates in DBT program/consultation team, delivering comprehensive DBT attending team weekly;
- Conducts DBT related work for a minimum of 1.5 days per week (as therapist, skills trainer, team leader, teacher, researcher);
- Individual therapy: has practiced for minimum of two years, treating a minimum of 10 cases;
- Skills trainer: has taught skills training for more than one year; has taught full curriculum at least twice;
- DBT teacher: has taught DBT locally—in consultation team, seminars, local region;
- Has training in behaviour therapy;
- Engages in regular mindfulness practice;
- Is up to date regarding research findings in DBT, populations for whom DBT is a recommended treatment, suicide, and suicide prevention and treatment;
- Attends national or international meetings on DBT and related topics to stay up to date about research and clinical updates;
- Having trained all DBT competencies (in English/or the language of the mentor) alongside with at least two different. EDBTA Level 2 Trainers as co-trainer. (to be defined more concretely);
- Successful participation in a 4-days EDBTA Trainers program; and
- Successful completion of training plus 4-days EDBTA Trainers program will lead to recognition of completion of an “EDBTA Competency Based Qualification” in training DBT. A register of those who have completed this will be available on the EDBTA website.
Level 2 EDBTA Trainers (Mentors)
Level 2 EDBTA Master Trainers will be selected and approved by the EDBTA.
Qualifications for EDBTA Level 2 Mentors:
- International reputation (treatment developer, RCTs, written extensively on DBT) as being able to train DBT to teams who operate out of the applicant’s own healthcare system (evidence of having trained at least 5 teams in at least 3 different healthcare systems);
- Demonstrated ability to role play any aspect of the treatment without preparation;
- Knowledge of the Research Literature
- Familiar with the key journal articles, texts and manuals used to formulate the treatment.
- Command of the research literature and can speak to its promise and its limitations.
- Knowledge of major adaptations (eg DBT-A, PTSD, SUD, ED, ASD, ADHD) and treatment settings (eg residential, forensic);
- Apply the principles of the treatment to the participants and the training including to hold to a position when a participant or participants disagrees with the stance taken, whilst remaining dialectical;
- Demonstrated ability to apply principles of team selection, specifically the principles around the unique role of team leader, recommendations about minimum time involvement per week for team members, and the principles of structuring the environment with respect to a DBT Team’s interface with a wider treatment setting;
- Demonstrated ability to support teams in the implementation of DBT;
- Ability to support development of consultation teams; and
- To hold to principles of the treatment, including maintaining a dialectical stance, when assisting with team conflict.
Local Adherence Coder:
Local Adherence Coder are certified by the EDBTA.
They are able to code for adherence in the local language.
Prerequisite to be approved by EDBTA as Local Adherence Coder: