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Behavioral Activation and DBT Skills for the Treatment of Depression

CE Hours 1

About this course

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 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.

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.

Learning Levels

  • Beginner

Target Audience

This educational activity is intended for behavioral health professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, and MFT's.

Course Instructor(s)

  • Rachel Leonard, PhD

    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.

References

  • Stein, A. T., Carl, E., Cuijpers, P., Karyotaki, E., & Smits, J. A. (2021). Looking beyond depression: a meta-analysis of the effect of behavioral activation on depression, anxiety, and activation. Psychological medicine, 51(9), 1491-1504. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720000239
  • Arnone, D., Karmegam, S. R., Östlundh, L., Alkhyeli, F., Alhammadi, L., Alhammadi, S., ... & Selvaraj, S. (2024). Risk of suicidal behavior in patients with major depression and bipolar disorder–A systematic review and meta-analysis of registry-based studies. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 159, 105594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105594.
  • Beck, A. T., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B. F., Emery, G., DeRubeis, R. J., & Hollon, S. D. (2024). Cognitive therapy of depression. Guilford Publications.
  • Cuijpers, P., Karyotaki, E., Harrer, M., & Stikkelbroek, Y. (2023). Individual behavioral activation in the treatment of depression: A meta analysis. Psychotherapy Research, 33(7), 886-897.  https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2023.2197630.
  • Dimidjian, S., Barrera Jr, M., Martell, C., Muñoz, R. F., & Lewinsohn, P. M. (2011). The origins and current status of behavioral activation treatments for depression. Annual review of clinical psychology, 7(1), 1-38. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032210-104535.
  • Dimidjian, S., Hollon, S. D., Dobson, K. S., Schmaling, K. B., Kohlenberg, R. J., Addis, M. E., Gallop, R., McGlinchey, J. B., Markley, D. K., Gollan, J. K., Atkins, D. C., Dunner, D. L., & Jacobson, N. S. (2006). Randomized trial of behavioral activation, cognitive therapy, and antidepressant medication in the acute treatment of adults with major depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(4), 658–670. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.74.4.658.
  • Gibson, J., Booth, R., Davenport, J., Keogh, K., & Owens, T. (2014). Dialectical behaviour therapy-informed skills training for deliberate self-harm: A controlled trial with 3-month follow-up data. Behaviour research and therapy, 60, 8-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2014.06.007.
  • Jacobson, N. S., Dobson, K. S., Truax, P. A., Addis, M. E., Koerner, K., Gollan, J. K., Gortner, E., & Prince, S. E. (1996). A component analysis of cognitive-behavioral treatment for depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(2), 295–304. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-006x.64.2.295.
  • Lejuez, C. W., Hopko, D. R., & Hopko, S. D. (2001). A brief behavioral activation treatment for depression. Treatment manual. Behavior Modification, 25(2), 255–286. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445501252005.
  • Lejuez, C. W., Hopko, D. R., Acierno, R., Daughters, S. B., & Pagoto, S. L. (2011). Ten year revision of the brief behavioral activation treatment for depression: revised treatment manual. Behavior Modification, 35(2), 111–161. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445510390929.
  • Lewinsohn, P. M., Biglan, A. & Zeiss, A. S. (1976) Behavioral treatment of depression. In The Behavioral Management of Anxiety, Depression and Pain (ed. Davidson, P. O.), pp. 91–146. Brunner/Mazel.
  • Linehan, M. M. (2015). DBT® skills training manual (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press.
  • Martell, C. R., Addis, M. E., & Jacobson, N. S. (2001). Depression in context: Strategies for guided action. W. W. Norton & Co.
  • Martell, C. R., Dimidjian, S., & Herman-Dunn, R. (2010). Behavioral activation for depression: A clinician's guide. The Guilford Press.
  • Mazzucchelli, T., Kane, R., & Rees, C. (2009). Behavioral activation treatments for depression in adults: a meta‐analysis and review. Clinical Psychology: science and practice, 16(4), 383-411. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2850.2009.01178.x
  • Michl, L. C., McLaughlin, K. A., Shepherd, K., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2013). Rumination as a mechanism linking stressful life events to symptoms of depression and anxiety: longitudinal evidence in early adolescents and adults. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 122(2), 339–352. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031994.
  • Nolen-Hoeksema S. (1991). Responses to depression and their effects on the duration of depressive episodes. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100(4), 569–582. https://doi.org/10.1037//0021-843x.100.4.569.
  • Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Wisco, B. E., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). Rethinking Rumination. Perspectives on Psychological Science : A Journal of the Association for Psychological Science, 3(5), 400–424. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6924.2008.00088.x.
  • Posner, K. (2007). Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) [Database record]. APA PsycTests.
  • Rehm, J., & Shield, K. D. (2019). Global burden of disease and the impact of mental and addictive disorders. Current Psychiatry Reports, 21(2), 10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-0997-0.
  • Richards, D. A., Ekers, D., McMillan, D., Taylor, R. S., Byford, S., Warren, F., ... & Finning, K. (2016). Behavioural Therapy for Depression (COBRA): a randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31140-0.
  • Stanley, B., & Brown, G. K. (2012). Safety planning intervention: A brief intervention to mitigate suicide risk. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 19(2), 256–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2011.01.001.
  • Valentine, S. E., Bankoff, S. M., Poulin, R. M., Reidler, E. B., & Pantalone, D. W. (2015). The use of dialectical behavior therapy skills training as stand-alone treatment: a systematic review of the treatment outcome literature. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 71(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22114.
  • Williams, A. D., Thompson, J., & Andrews, G. (2013). The impact of psychological distress tolerance in the treatment of depression. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 51(8), 469–475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2013.05.005.
  • World Health Organization. (2022). World Mental Health Report; Transforming Mental Health for All. World Health Organization.

CE Process Info

Content

  • Materials
    1 parts
    • Slide Deck & Additional Materials
  • Recordings
    2 parts
    • Shared Screen With Speaker View(CC)
    • Audio Only
Behavioral Activation and DBT Skills for the Treatment of Depression
You Have Completed This course
Free
You are enrolled
  • CE Hours
    1
  • Type
    Self-Paced
  • Publication Date
    Aug 10th, 2026
  • Expires on
    December 31st, 2028

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