Introducing the Benefits of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills for System Involved Youth

Ashley Maliken, PhD

Training Description

This training is designed to help those who support system involved youth adapt and teach the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) interpersonal effectiveness skills to system-involved youth (SIY) which can be used in situations most relevant to the youth. Participants will learn the skills of Clarifying Priorities, DEAR MAN, GIVE, FAST and Factors to Consider, with an emphasis on the systems within and power dynamics under which SIY are often operating. Role play demonstrations will be used to model how to teach youth these skills and apply them to specific situations they may encounter as generated by attendees. We will also discuss strategies to support system involved youth in balancing their objective goals with self-respect, and the use of “being effective instead of being right” as a short-term strategy towards achieving long-term goals.

Learning Objectives

· Participants will be able to identify the 3 priorities system involved youth will wish to clarify before crafting an interpersonal request.

· Participants will be able to explain each component of the DEAR MAN, GIVE and FAST acronyms.

· Participants will be able to identify at least 3 factors to consider before making an interpersonal request.

Agenda

11:00am – 11:30am: Background on the goals of interpersonal effectiveness skills as described in DBT

- Get what you want/say no effectively, maintain or improve relationships, maintain or improve self-respect

11:30am – 12:30pm: Teach the 3 interpersonal skills with role plays/examples

- DEAR MAN, GIVE, FAST

12:30pm – 12:45pm: Break (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

12:45pm – 1:30pm: Review factors to consider

- Person’s ability to do what you want, power dynamics, past interactions, racism/bias

1:30pm – 2:00pm: Discuss special considerations for system involved youth (SIY)

- Past invalidation by the system, prejudices held about SIY, difficulty tolerating distress of not getting what they want despite effective behavior

2:00pm – 3:00pm: Role play examples, Questions & Answers

Meet Our Trainer

Ashley Maliken is a licensed clinical psychologist with an expertise in providing evidence-based treatments to adolescents, young adults and their families. She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and is DBT-LBC certified. Dr. Maliken earned her doctorate from the University of Washington, where she also completed an adolescent health fellowship in leadership and education through an interdisciplinary program sponsored by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Her postdoctoral research centered on helping SIY utilize DBT skills to navigate interpersonal challenges as related to sexual health. Before becoming Acting Director of Training and Quality Assurance at the Portland DBT Institute in Portland, Oregon, Dr. Maliken was an Associate Professor at UCSF and Associate Director of Training for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship.

This course meets the qualifications for (3.75) BBS CE Hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.