Dr. Rachel Leonard is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in treating depression, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive and related conditions. She has extensive experience in intensive care environments, including residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs, where she has developed and implemented standardized, evidence-based protocols, provided training, and supervised staff. Dr. Leonard is dedicated to measurement-based care and continually seeks opportunities to improve client outcomes.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Leonard actively engages in research focused on evaluating and predicting treatment results within real-world settings.
Dr. Leonard is the director of clinical learning & development at Guidelight Health.
Behavioral Activation and DBT Skills for the Treatment of Depression
Guidelight is hosting a virtual CE session open to the community. Depression is among the most common behavioral health conditions and is associated with significant functional impairment, increased morbidity, and elevated suicide risk. Clinicians across levels of care regularly encounter clients struggling with depressive symptoms, making it essential to have practical, evidence-based tools that support meaningful and sustained improvement. This continuing education presentation provides a clinically grounded overview of Behavioral Activation (BA), a well-established, evidence-based treatment...Read more for depression. Participants will review the theoretical foundations of Behavioral Activation, examine the research supporting its effectiveness, and learn actionable strategies for implementing BA interventions in real-world clinical settings.
The session will also explore how select Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills can be integrated to help clients follow through with activation goals, manage emotional barriers, and build momentum toward valued activities. In addition, the presentation will address assessment considerations and intervention strategies for managing safety concerns, including suicidal ideation, within the context of depression treatment. Designed for clinicians working across outpatient and intermediate levels of care, this session emphasizes practical application, skill integration, and client-centered treatment planning. Less...
Learning Objectives
- Describe the historical development and core theoretical principles of Behavioral Activation (BA).
- Differentiate and accurately classify client activities into Behavioral Activation’s three activity types: routine, enjoyable, and values-based.
- Apply and analyze Behavioral Activation strategies to help clients reintroduce activities into their lives using activity hierarchies and well-structured assignments.
- Explain Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills that complement and enhance the effectiveness of Behavioral Activation interventions.
- Identify and manage client safety concerns through the appropriate use of assessment tools, safety planning, and related clinical strategies.
Target Audience
This educational activity is intended for behavioral health professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, and MFT's.
Learning Levels
- Beginner
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Live Interactive Webinar
11:00 AM CDT - 12:00 PM CDT
EARN 1 CE Credit Hours
Click Here to Register
Click Here to Register
About the speaker
Rachel Leonard, PhD
Director of Clinical Learning & Development
Agenda
11:00 am - 11:05 am - Welcome and introductions11:05 am - 11:10 am - Overview of topics covered and depression prevalence
11:10 am - 11:15 am - The history of Behavioral Activation (BA)
11:15 am - 11:25 am - BA's TRAP and TRAC model
12:25 pm - 12:35 pm - BA activity planning and activity hierarchy
12:35 pm - 12:40 pm - BA's approach to rumination
11:40 am - 11:45 am - Enhancing BA with DBT
11:45 am - 11:50 am - Addressing safety concerns
11:50 am - 12:00 pm - Questions
12:00 pm - Conclude
CE Information - Earn 1 CE Credit Hour
CE Approvals
Joint Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
American Psychological Association
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
New York Education Department's State Board for Social Work
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #0060.
New York Education Department Board of Creative Arts Therapy
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board of Creative Arts Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #CAT-0008
New York Education Department for Licensed Mental Health Counselors
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) 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-0072.
New York Education Department Board for Licensed Psychoanalysts
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychoanalysts as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #P-0031.
New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #PSY-0016.
New York Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MFT-0045.
CE Process Info
Before the event, you will receive an email from CE-Go with access to the virtual event. After the event, you will receive access to your evaluation and continuing education certificate via a personalized "attendee dashboard" link, hosted on the CE-Go website. This link and access to the virtual event will be sent to the email account you used to register for the event.
Upon accessing the CE-Go "attendee dashboard", you will be able to:
- Complete evaluation forms for the event
- Download your continuing education certificate in a PDF format
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CE-Go platform, please contact CE-Go at 888-498-5578 or by email at support@ce-go.com Please Note: Emails for this event will come from "support@ceactivities.com".
If you have any continuing education related questions, please contact your event organizer.
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