Overview

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) was created by Marsha Linehan (1993) to treat individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), or more specifically, highly suicidal individuals.

Technically, a Cognitive-Behavioural therapy, with the emphasis on the behavioural, DBT is a multi-component, treatment modality which is often considered the golden-standard for treating BPD (e.g. Cochrane review), and has been adapted for helping to treat others mental health problems.

Based on an underlying dialectical philosophy, DBT teaches people skills that relate to acceptance (mindfulness; distress tolerance), and change (emotional regulation; interpersonal effectiveness) to provide emotional regulation and ultimately help individuals achieve a life worth living. 

Webinar 1: Thursday 30 July 2026, 9am-4:30pm AEST

Webinar 2: Monday 3 August 2026, 9am-4:30pm AEST

This two-day webinar will cover:

• the traditional DBT treatment model,

• an introduction to the underlying theory of DBT,

• the four treatment components and stages,

• main treatment strategies of individual DBT therapy (diary cards; chain analysis), and

• the four skill sets taught in DBT groups.

Level of Learning

Foundational. This activity is targeted to those new to the topic.

Duration of access

These webinars will be recorded and made available only to registered participants of the live event. Participants of the live events will have access to the recording and presenter slides (once available) for 12 months from the date of confirmed registration.

IMPORTANT: Places are limited and registration will not be available after the webinars have taken place.

APS CPD-Approved

This activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality. Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process.

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• identify the theoretical foundations of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT),

• describe Diary Cards and Chain Analysis in individual DBT therapy, and

• apply DBT skills.

Presenter(s)

Christopher Hepworth MAPS

About the presenter(s)

Chris is a Clinical Psychologist and accredited advanced schema therapist, trainer and supervisor who lives in Perth, Western Australia.
He has a small private practice in addition and is also the Clinical Lead on the DBTeen Program in WA, within which he provides clinical consultation (supervision) and guidance to DBTeen group clinicians, and to Lifeline about clinical aspects of the program.
In addition to being trained in Schema Therapy, Chris has been coordinating and delivering Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) programs for a number of years, and his practice is also informed by EMDR and other cognitive-behavioural therapies.
Chris provides formal training in Schema Therapy both in Australia and abroad, in addition to providing training and up-skilling in DBT.
From his private practice he also provides individual supervision and has been providing group and individual supervision for a number of years.