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Description
Mental health clinicians are increasingly practicing in contexts marked by chronic stress, systemic strain, and pervasive uncertainty, placing them at elevated risk for emotional exhaustion, moral distress, and erosion of hope. This presentation offers a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)–aligned framework for understanding and responding to uncertainty, framing hope not as optimism or certainty but as sustained engagement in building a “life worth living” despite ambiguity. Balance is conceptualized as a dynamic process requiring ongoing attention to emotional vulnerability, boundaries, and effectiveness. The presentation normalizes clinician stress responses to uncertainty and introduces DBT-consistent strategies to support clinician sustainability, improved client outcomes, and ethical practice.
About the Presenter:
Ms. Bundick is the co-owner/co-director of Falls Neuropsychology and Psychotherapy Associates, PLLC located in Raleigh, NC. She has over 30 years of experience providing psychotherapy services to a diverse client population in a variety of treatment settings. She is the author of “On The Spot Resilience Skills” and provides training in these skills to her clients and community, as well as to other professionals through Continuing Education Courses.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe how chronic stress and uncertainty impact clinician wellbeing, hope, and clinical effectiveness
- Apply DBT core principles (dialectics and Wise Mind) to support clinician balance and decision‑making
- Match DBT skill modules to client needs and treatment phase
- Demonstrate DBT‑informed coaching strategies to reduce suffering and increase effectiveness
- Develop a brief, skills‑based DBT “Hope Plan” to support generalization and values‑based action
Agenda:
|
Time |
Segment |
Slides/Section |
Facilitator Moves (script cues) |
Participant Activity |
Materials |
|
0:00–0:10 |
Welcome +
psychological safety |
Title /
framing |
Welcome. Name
purpose + scope (clinician + client). Confidentiality: principles not
identifiers. “Take what fits.” Quick poll: uncertainty 0–10. |
Quick rating
+ brief share in pairs (30 sec each). |
Slide, timer |
|
0:10–0:20 |
Objectives +
agenda preview |
Learning
goals |
Review
objectives. Invite: choose 1 clinician target + 1 client target for today. |
Write targets
on card; keep for closing. |
Notecards/paper |
|
0:20–0:40 |
DBT frame:
Dialectics + Wise Mind |
Dialectics/Wise
Mind |
Teach:
acceptance AND change; Wise Mind integrates Emotion/Reasonable Mind. Offer 2
examples. Lead 60-sec Wise Mind breath. |
1-min
practice + “acceptance AND change” pair share. |
Timer |
|
0:40–1:00 |
Clinician
stress + maintaining hope |
Stressors/hope |
Normalize
clinician stress responses. Define hope as grounded engagement (not
certainty). Introduce “micro-wins/life worth living moments.” |
Triads: “What
drains hope?” “What restores hope?” Share 2 themes. |
Flip chart |
|
1:00–1:15 |
Clinician
balance skills (PLEASE + effectiveness) |
PLEASE/boundaries |
Teach PLEASE
as vulnerability reduction; build mastery + pleasant events; boundaries as
effectiveness. Prompt: “What’s one tiny repair?” |
PLEASE check:
circle most disrupted domain; write 1 repair action. |
Handout
(optional) |
|
| |||||
|
1:15–1:35 |
Transition:
match skill to phase |
Sequencing |
Teach
sequencing: stabilize (DT) → regulate (ER) → solve/connect (IE). Model a
60-sec “skill selection” dialogue. |
Whole group:
call out which module fits 2 quick scenarios. |
Slides |
|
1:35–1:55 |
Mindfulness
module (client skills) |
WHAT/HOW +
Wise Mind |
Teach
Observe/Describe/Participate + Nonjudgmental/One-mindful/Effective. Demo
coaching line: “Worry is here; return to one thing.” |
Pairs: client
stuck in “what ifs” + coach mindfulness. Switch roles halfway. |
Cheat sheet |
|
1:55–2:20 |
Distress
Tolerance (crisis skills) |
TIPP/STOP/RA/Pros-Cons |
Clarify: DT
is for crisis—not solving. Teach TIPP + STOP; introduce Pros/Cons + Radical
Acceptance. Coach with specificity. |
Small groups:
match vignette to DT skill; write 3-line coaching script; brief share-out. |
Vignettes |
|
2:20–2:25 |
Reset /
stretch |
— |
Lead 60-sec
stretch + paced breathing. Re-anchor: “effective next step.” |
Follow along |
— |
|
2:25–2:50 |
Emotion
Regulation (change strategies) |
Check the
Facts/OA/PLEASE |
Teach: Check
the Facts; Opposite Action when emotion doesn’t fit facts; vulnerability
reduction + mastery/positive experiences. Model a quick example. |
Worksheet
practice: identify emotion + urge → Check facts → pick OA step that is
measurable. |
Worksheet/cheat
sheet |
|
2:50–3:10 |
Interpersonal
Effectiveness |
DEAR
MAN/GIVE/FAST |
Frame hope
via connection + self-respect. Teach DEAR MAN, GIVE, FAST. Run short
role-play instructions. |
Pairs: DEAR
MAN ask/say no. Rotate roles. Debrief phrases that worked. |
Role-play
prompt |
|
3:10–3:25 |
Integration:
DBT “Hope Plan” |
Hope Plan |
Introduce
3-part plan: 1 crisis skill + 1 regulation skill + 1 values/connection
action. Add outcome check: reduce suffering / increase effectiveness. |
Create: (a)
clinician plan, (b) client plan. Share one tiny step. |
Template |
|
3:25–3:40 |
Implementation
supports (team/supervision) |
Sustainability |
Discuss
generalization: coach, troubleshoot, reinforce effort. Team norms: shared
language; brief Wise Mind check-ins. Optional evidence snapshot. |
Write 1
team-level change; quick round-robin shares. |
Flip chart |
|
3:40–3:00 |
Close +
evaluation (last 5–10 min) |
Closing /
references |
Return to
target cards. Ask: “What will you do this week?” Post rating: hope 0–10,
uncertainty distress 0–10. Thank group. |
Commitment
share (optional). Submit eval slips. |
Eval slips |
Accreditation - This Webinar Offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
- CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
This presentation is open to:
- Behavior Analysts
- Social Workers
- Professional Counselors
- Therapists
- Psychologists
- Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
- Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
- Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
This online class is offered at an intermediate level, and is beneficial for an intermediate level clinician:
- New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
- Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
- Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
- Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives
Additional information
- Refunds: Registrants who are unable to attend a EZ CEU seminar or live webinars may ask for, and will receive, a credit or refund (your choice). Refund requests will be processed within 3 business days. When an attendee knows in advance that they are unable to attend we ask that they inform EZ CEU ahead of time by emailing support@nefeshinternational.com or by calling or texting 201-384-0084 this allows us to free up the spot in the training in the event that a training is at or near capacity.
- Disability Access: If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification.
- Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly.
- The grievance policy for trainings provided by EZ CEU is available here
- Satisfactory Completion: Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion in your account or by clicking here
- Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.
- There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
- System Requirements: Any device (such as a computer, tablet, or phone), Dual-Core 2 GHz or higher processor, and at least 4 GB of RAM capable of running a Zoom session, along with a stable internet connection.
- Although early registration is recommended for this class in order to ensure the best experience, attendees may register and join until the start of the program