DBT LBC CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
COMPLETE EXAM PREP (2026/2027)
According to Linehan, BPD clients possess 6 behavioral patterns. These are: - ✔✔emotional
vulnerability, self-invalidation, unrelenting crisis, inhibited grieving, active passivity, and
apparent competence
Linehan's criteria for BPD is most similar to - ✔✔Millon
What % of BPD client's engage in self-injurious behaviors? - ✔✔70-75%
Kreitman introduced this term meaning nonfatal, intentional self injurious behavior resulting in
actual tissue damage, illness, or risk of death; or 2) ingestion of any drugs or substance not
prescribed or in excess to the prescription with intent to cause harm or death. This term
includes both SI gestures and self injurious behaviors with little or not intent to cause death. -
✔✔parasuicide
4 differences between CBT and DBT: - ✔✔1) Emphasis on acceptance and validation of
behavior as it is in the moment
2) Emphasis on TIBs
3) Emphasis on the therapeutic relationship
4) Focus on dialectical processes
The term "dialectics" as applied to behavioral therapy has come to imply 2 contexts of usage: -
✔✔1) fundamental nature of reality and persuasive dialogue and relationship.
2) Treatment approach or strategies used by the therapist to effect change.
Dialectics as a worldview has 3 traits: - ✔✔1) interrelatedness and wholeness
,2) Principles of Polarity (within dysfunction there is function, wise mind, finding value in one's
pt of view, looking for the function within the present moment)
3) Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis: Principles of Continuous Change
Borderline splitting is defined as - ✔✔tendency to get stuck in either the thesis or the
antithesis, unable to move to a synthesis. Either/or thinking
The environment- person system is comprised of the: - ✔✔environmental sub-system (social
support, life change, suicidal, suicidal consequences) demographic factors (age, sex, and race),
and behavioral subsystem ( cognitive, over motor, and physiological affective system)
Grostein proposed bpd is a disorder of - ✔✔self regulation
characteristics of emotional vulnerability includes : - ✔✔high sensitivity to emotional stimuli,
emotional intensity, slow return to emotional baseline.
emotional regulation requires 2 paradoxical strategies - ✔✔1) the individual must learn to
experience and label the discreet emotions
2) the individual must learn to reduce emotionally relevant stimuli that serve either to
reactivate and augment ongoing negative emotions or to set off secondary dysfunctional
emotional responses.
inhibition of emotions can lead to - ✔✔1) neglect of the problem situation causing the
emotions
2) increase in emotional avoidance (emotion phobic)
3) research is unknown on the outcome of emotion inhibition over the long term
Poorness of fit results (Chess and Thomas) - ✔✔when there is discrepancies and dissonances
between environmental opportunities and demands and the capacities and characteristics of
the child. In these instances , distorted environment and maladaptive functions results.
,Per Linehan, an invalidating enivorment: - ✔✔is one in which communication of private
experiences is met by erratic, inappropriate, and extreme responses.
Invalidation has 2 primary traits - ✔✔1) it tells the person that they are wrong 2) it attributes
her experiences to socially unacceptable characteristics or personality traits
consequences of invalidating environments - ✔✔1) emotional labeling is not learned, 2)
distress intolerance and unrealistic goals/ expectations are instilled, 3) extreme behavioral
displays are used to get needs met, 4) lack of trust of one's own emotional and cognitive
interpretations are instilled
what are the 3 types of invalidating family systems - ✔✔1) perfect family
2) chaotic family
3) typical family
This family type struggles with multiple issues within the family system, needs of the child are
ignored and invalidated, there is volatile responses, etc - ✔✔Chaotic Family
This family type cannot tolerate the negative emotions of the child. This can be due to high
work demands, self-centeredness, intolerance of negative emotions, and naive fears of spoiling
the child. This family system has sympathy for their child but unknowingly can invalidate by
offering over simplified solutions to their child, ie pray about it - ✔✔perfect family
This family system exists within the western cultures and supports the idea of cognitive control
with focus on achievement above all else. Self-control is move important. - ✔✔Typical family
system
, Active Passivity is similar to _____ focused coping; ie the tendency to respond to stressful
events with efforts to reduce the negative emotional reaction by distracting or seeking comfort
from others. - ✔✔Emotion
What factors contribute to apparent competency: - ✔✔1) person's competence is variable and
conditional
2) person struggles with ability to be vulnerable with others
3) person's reaction to interpersonal relationships; ie the difference in behavior of the person in
a therapeutic relationship versus other outside relationships
The core strategies of dbt are: - ✔✔problem solving (change) and validation (acceptance)
There are 2 types of validation strategies (ie core strategies): - ✔✔1) wisdom within the client's
maladaptive behaviors based on the client's historical context
2) the therapist belief in the client's ability to build a LWL
Problem solving strategies (core strategies) include: - ✔✔1) BCAs
2) Solutions Analysis
3) Orientation to the treatment solution
4) Eliciting commitment from the client
5) Application of the treatment
The BCA includes the 4 following questions (BCA being a problem-solving strategies which is a
Core strategy) - ✔✔1) Does the individual have the ability to engage in a more adaptive
response? (if not incorporate skills)
2) What are the reinforcing contingencies? (contingency management)
3) If adaptive responses are present, is their application inhibited by client's fear or guilt? Is the
client emotion phobic? (exposure therapy)
COMPLETE EXAM PREP (2026/2027)
According to Linehan, BPD clients possess 6 behavioral patterns. These are: - ✔✔emotional
vulnerability, self-invalidation, unrelenting crisis, inhibited grieving, active passivity, and
apparent competence
Linehan's criteria for BPD is most similar to - ✔✔Millon
What % of BPD client's engage in self-injurious behaviors? - ✔✔70-75%
Kreitman introduced this term meaning nonfatal, intentional self injurious behavior resulting in
actual tissue damage, illness, or risk of death; or 2) ingestion of any drugs or substance not
prescribed or in excess to the prescription with intent to cause harm or death. This term
includes both SI gestures and self injurious behaviors with little or not intent to cause death. -
✔✔parasuicide
4 differences between CBT and DBT: - ✔✔1) Emphasis on acceptance and validation of
behavior as it is in the moment
2) Emphasis on TIBs
3) Emphasis on the therapeutic relationship
4) Focus on dialectical processes
The term "dialectics" as applied to behavioral therapy has come to imply 2 contexts of usage: -
✔✔1) fundamental nature of reality and persuasive dialogue and relationship.
2) Treatment approach or strategies used by the therapist to effect change.
Dialectics as a worldview has 3 traits: - ✔✔1) interrelatedness and wholeness
,2) Principles of Polarity (within dysfunction there is function, wise mind, finding value in one's
pt of view, looking for the function within the present moment)
3) Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis: Principles of Continuous Change
Borderline splitting is defined as - ✔✔tendency to get stuck in either the thesis or the
antithesis, unable to move to a synthesis. Either/or thinking
The environment- person system is comprised of the: - ✔✔environmental sub-system (social
support, life change, suicidal, suicidal consequences) demographic factors (age, sex, and race),
and behavioral subsystem ( cognitive, over motor, and physiological affective system)
Grostein proposed bpd is a disorder of - ✔✔self regulation
characteristics of emotional vulnerability includes : - ✔✔high sensitivity to emotional stimuli,
emotional intensity, slow return to emotional baseline.
emotional regulation requires 2 paradoxical strategies - ✔✔1) the individual must learn to
experience and label the discreet emotions
2) the individual must learn to reduce emotionally relevant stimuli that serve either to
reactivate and augment ongoing negative emotions or to set off secondary dysfunctional
emotional responses.
inhibition of emotions can lead to - ✔✔1) neglect of the problem situation causing the
emotions
2) increase in emotional avoidance (emotion phobic)
3) research is unknown on the outcome of emotion inhibition over the long term
Poorness of fit results (Chess and Thomas) - ✔✔when there is discrepancies and dissonances
between environmental opportunities and demands and the capacities and characteristics of
the child. In these instances , distorted environment and maladaptive functions results.
,Per Linehan, an invalidating enivorment: - ✔✔is one in which communication of private
experiences is met by erratic, inappropriate, and extreme responses.
Invalidation has 2 primary traits - ✔✔1) it tells the person that they are wrong 2) it attributes
her experiences to socially unacceptable characteristics or personality traits
consequences of invalidating environments - ✔✔1) emotional labeling is not learned, 2)
distress intolerance and unrealistic goals/ expectations are instilled, 3) extreme behavioral
displays are used to get needs met, 4) lack of trust of one's own emotional and cognitive
interpretations are instilled
what are the 3 types of invalidating family systems - ✔✔1) perfect family
2) chaotic family
3) typical family
This family type struggles with multiple issues within the family system, needs of the child are
ignored and invalidated, there is volatile responses, etc - ✔✔Chaotic Family
This family type cannot tolerate the negative emotions of the child. This can be due to high
work demands, self-centeredness, intolerance of negative emotions, and naive fears of spoiling
the child. This family system has sympathy for their child but unknowingly can invalidate by
offering over simplified solutions to their child, ie pray about it - ✔✔perfect family
This family system exists within the western cultures and supports the idea of cognitive control
with focus on achievement above all else. Self-control is move important. - ✔✔Typical family
system
, Active Passivity is similar to _____ focused coping; ie the tendency to respond to stressful
events with efforts to reduce the negative emotional reaction by distracting or seeking comfort
from others. - ✔✔Emotion
What factors contribute to apparent competency: - ✔✔1) person's competence is variable and
conditional
2) person struggles with ability to be vulnerable with others
3) person's reaction to interpersonal relationships; ie the difference in behavior of the person in
a therapeutic relationship versus other outside relationships
The core strategies of dbt are: - ✔✔problem solving (change) and validation (acceptance)
There are 2 types of validation strategies (ie core strategies): - ✔✔1) wisdom within the client's
maladaptive behaviors based on the client's historical context
2) the therapist belief in the client's ability to build a LWL
Problem solving strategies (core strategies) include: - ✔✔1) BCAs
2) Solutions Analysis
3) Orientation to the treatment solution
4) Eliciting commitment from the client
5) Application of the treatment
The BCA includes the 4 following questions (BCA being a problem-solving strategies which is a
Core strategy) - ✔✔1) Does the individual have the ability to engage in a more adaptive
response? (if not incorporate skills)
2) What are the reinforcing contingencies? (contingency management)
3) If adaptive responses are present, is their application inhibited by client's fear or guilt? Is the
client emotion phobic? (exposure therapy)
