Presented by Cecily Portillo, Ph.D.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is considered an Evidence-Based Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and has been associated with numerous improvements, including in suicide attempts, binge eating, interpersonal sensitivity, hopelessness, substance dependence and others. The aim of this presentation is to provide a brief overview of the DBT treatment model and clarify the principles that drive treatment outcomes. The presentation will discuss how to identify behavioral targets in treatment and structure treatment sessions to increase therapy efficacy. In addition, the presentation will highlight a few rules that inform DBT assessment and practice and correct common misconceptions. A combination of literature review, experiential activities, and case examples will be used to illustrate concepts.

Dr. Portillo is a licensed psychologist with a full-time faculty appointment at the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital (CUIMC/NYP). In addition, she maintains a part-time private practice in Garden City, NY serving adults, adolescents, and their families. Dr. Portillo graduated from the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program at Hofstra University, where she received extensive training in evidence-based approaches that include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Prolonged Exposure for anxiety, depression, and trauma. Dr. Portillo primarily specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for adolescents and adults and is an active DBT clinician on a consultation team at CUMIC/NYP, where she provides adherent individual and group DBT skills training. As a bilingual Spanish psychologist, Dr. Portillo is also passionate in adapting DBT to be culturally responsive and is an active member of the ISITDBT Antiracism Committee. 

Register for this workshop