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Evaluation ViewAttendees 5

Program / Treatment Design
Session Type:: Symposia

Symposium 38 - Increasing Access: DBT adaptations for novel populations and settings

Saturday, November 22, 2025
11:45 AM - 1:15 PM CST
Location: Imperial 12, Level 4
CE: 1.5

Keywords: DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), Treatment/ Program Design, Borderline Personality Disorder
Level of Familiarity: Basic to Moderate
Recommended Readings: Haft, S. L., O'Grady, S. M., Shaller, E. A., & Liu, N. H. (2022). Cultural adaptations of dialectical behavior therapy: A systematic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 90(10), 787.,   Rizvi, S. L., Bitran, A. M., Oshin, L. A., Yin, Q., & Ruork, A. K. (2024). The state of the science: Dialectical behavior therapy. Behavior Therapy.,   Davis, S. M., & Jones, M. K. (2021). Black women at war: A comprehensive framework for research on the strong Black woman. Women's Studies in Communication, 44(3), 301-322.,   Aunon, F. M., Ingram, P., Wolkowicz, N., Martino, S., Kacos, H., Spana, E., ... & Decker, S. E. (2025). To Adopt or Adapt: A Scoping Review of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy With Patients With Minoritised Identity Constructs. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 25(1), e70000.,   Chugani, C. D., & Landes, S. J. (2016). Dialectical behavior therapy in college counseling centers: Current trends and barriers to implementation. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 30(3), 176-186.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment originally developed to treat highly suicidal individuals with borderline personality disorder, which has since demonstrated effectiveness in treating a wide range of clinical populations and surged in popularity and availability. The principle-based and modular nature of DBT allows for its adaptation for implementation in novel settings or populations while remaining adherent. Further, given the broad applicability of the core principles of behaviorism, acceptance, and dialectics, it is possible that no adaptations may be needed for some populations. However, further research is needed to better inform how DBT works, for whom, and under what conditions.
This symposium will present on five different adaptations of DBT to various settings and populations. Results regarding efficacy/effectiveness will be presented along with a discussion of the decisions made regarding various forms of adaptation will be provided by each presenter, followed by a broader discussion about adaptations presented.

First, Dr. Giselle Colorado will present on an investigation of DBT for adolescents adapted and translated for Spanish speaking families, compared against an English-speaking program at the same hospital. Next, Dr. Shain-Ling Keng will present on a study evaluating the impact of a DBT skills training program translated and adapted for schoolteachers in Malaysia, compared with teachers receiving a generic mental health training. Third, Dr. Allison Ruork will present on research examining full model/comprehensive DBT adapted for implementation in a college counseling center. Then, Qing Yin will present results from her study assessing an adaptation of DBT skills training in the form of animated videos for non-treatment seeking Chinese/Chinese American college students. Fifth, Ramya Ramadurai will present her research adapting and pilot testing an adaptation of DBT for single session intervention for Black women experiencing racial stress and emotion dysregulation. The symposium will then conclude with a discussion led by Dr. Shireen Rizvi, and audience Q&A.

Together, these five talks will provide examples and empirical data regarding a range of adaptations for populations and settings, which each entail a different combination of adaptations to setting (e.g., college counseling centers, single session intervention, & animated videos), cultural adaptation (e.g., Latinx & Malaysian populations), and/or translation (e.g., to Mandarin, Spanish, & Malay).

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Describe the role of adaptation in increasing access to EBTs like DBT.
  2. Identify factors to consider when deciding whether, what, and how to adapt of DBT.
  3. Describe the process for developing an adaptation of DBT for novel populations and settings.
  4. Compare consideration and process of adapting DBT for various populations and settings.
  5. Describe potential challenges that may arise when adapting DBT for delivery in different contexts.
  6. Discuss relevant implications and recommendations for clinical practice.

Presentations:

  • 11:50 AM - 12:07 PM CST
    (SYM 38) Effectiveness of an Outpatient Adolescent Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program Adapted for Spanish-speaking Families

    Speaker: Giselle Colorado, Psy.D. (she/her/hers) – NYU Langone Medical Center

    Co-author: Christopher D. Hughes, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – Alpert Medical School of Brown University

    Co-author: Nancy Colorado, BA (she/her/hers) – Rutgers

    Co-author: Qingqing Yin, M.S. (she/her/hers) – Rutgers University

    Co-author: Catharina Carvalho, PhD SSPD (she/her/hers) – Trinitas

    Co-author: Atara Hiller, PsyD (she/her/hers) – Trinitas Institute for DBT and Allied Treatments

  • 12:07 PM - 12:24 PM CST
    (SYM 38) Enhancing Teacher Well-being: A Quasi-experimental Study on Brief Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training for Malay-speaking Educators in Malaysia

    Speaker: Shian-Ling Keng, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Sunway University

    Co-author: Nicholas Tze Ping Pang, MBBS (he/him/his) – Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah

    Co-author: Clarissa Tanin, BS (she/her/hers) – Monash University Malaysia

    Co-author: Yee Hsuen Cheng, MBBS (he/him/his) – Universiti Malaysia Sabah

    Co-author: Andrea Wong, M. Clin. Psy. (she/her/hers) – Department of Psychology, Sunway University

    Co-author: Noor Melissa Binti Nor Hadi, MBBS (she/her/hers) – Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia

  • 12:24 PM - 12:41 PM CST
    (SYM 38) Implementing DBT in College Counseling Centers: The Importance of Functionally Consistent Modification

    Speaker: Allison K. Ruork, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Evidence-Based Practice Institute

    Co-author: Hannah R. Krall, B.S. – Rutgers University

    Co-author: Shireen Rizvi, ABPP, Ph.D. – Montefiore Medical Center

    Co-author: Linda Oshin, Ph.D. – Rutgers University

    Co-author: Jacqueline Pistorello, Ph.D. – University of Nevada, Reno Counseling Services

    Co-author: Scott N. Compton, Ph.D. – Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

    Co-author: John R. Seeley, Ph.D. – University of Oregon

  • 12:41 PM - 12:58 PM CST
    (SYM 38) DBT Skills Video Intervention for Chinese/chinese American College Students: Emotion Regulation Outcomes in Context

    Speaker: Qingqing Yin, M.S. (she/her/hers) – Rutgers University

    Co-author: Marcus Rodriguez, Ph.D. – Pitzer College

    Co-author: Shireen Rizvi, ABPP, Ph.D. – Montefiore Medical Center

  • 12:58 PM - 1:15 PM CST
    (SYM 38) Development and Pilot Testing of a Culturally Adapted Single Session Intervention for Black Women

    Speaker: Ramya Ramadurai, M.A. (she/her/hers) – Mclean Hospital/Harvard Medical School

    Co-author: Nathaniel R. Herr, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – American University