Overview

The Comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Externship/Rotation at The Bethesda Group (TBG) provides training in full fidelity, comprehensive DBT and related psychotherapeutic interventions, including prolonged exposure for PTSD. We are pleased to offer a practicum for the 2027-2028 year; this training is best suited for an advanced trainee.

Trainees will learn from licensed DBT-LBC Certified therapists, as well as other clinical psychologists, social workers, and counselors. Externs become a full and active member of our DBT teams; The DBT trainee will participate as a therapist, group leader, skills coach, consultation team member, etc. Direct clinical care will occur with clients in the DBT program, with the expectation that the student will carry a caseload of individual DBT clients, co-lead at least one DBT Skills Training Group, and provide DBT Skills Coaching out of session with their individual clients. Educational methods include direct didactic hours, 1-1 clinical supervision, DBT professional development meetings and continuing education workshops available at TBG, and individual guided self-study. The student is asked to attend 3 weekly team meetings, with the didactics and consultation team meeting a requirement of the training experience. The student will be expected to provide recordings of individual therapy sessions to their supervisor regularly.

Educational goals consist of learning principles and procedures used in comprehensive DBT with individual clients. Acceptance, change, and dialectical procedures and principles will be learned and increasingly used with clients over the course of the training year. The student will also be expected to learn to fully teach all DBT Skills. The student may also have the opportunity to learn DBT-Prolonged Exposure to treat PTSD.

Time Commitment

This site requires a time commitment of at least 14 hours (although psychiatry residents commitment is closer to 10-12 hours). These hours are spent as follows: 2 hours co-leading a group, 1 hour per week of individual therapy per client, 3 hours of team meetings, 1 hour of didactics, 1+ hours supervision, and more time for learning through self-study. Providing as needed phone coaching to trainee’s individual clients is also expected. More time will likely be available if the trainee requests.

This is a 12-month elective that will begin at a date TBD, around the first week of July. The first month involves didactic and observational learning as well as 1-1 supervision. Starting in the second month through the end of June, direct clinical hours will be expected.

Application Process

Note: Currently, this training opportunity is for students from psychology doctoral and psychiatry residency programs. If you are in a different degree program and interested in learning if we can be a placement for you, please contact Dr. Gottlieb directly to discuss your interest.

1. Please submit the following to externship@thebethesdagroup.com via email by Sunday 1/31/2027 at midnight:
   1. Letter of intent that states your interest and goals for participating in this training externship. Please make sure to describe why you seek out a comprehensive DBT training year, specifically
   2. Curriculum vita (CV)
   3. At least 2 letters of recommendation
2. Selected applicants will be contacted for an interview within 2 weeks, to occur by the end of February or early March (exact dates TBD)
3. Selected trainee(s) will be notified soon after their interview date

Any questions can be sent to Dr. Gottlieb at externship@thebethesdagroup.com.