Skills System Training!

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What do you do when you have patients who could really benefit from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, but they can’t read, or have much lower intellectual capacity and can’t learn some of the bigger words and concepts, or have interference and challenges like active psychosis?

 

 

 

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You call Dr. Julie Brown and learn about The Skills System—-“an emotion regulation system for ALL learning abilities!

 

 

 

 

 

We can attest that the principles are simple, straightforward, easy to learn, and applicable 20151028-DSC_1463even for people with moderate intellectual disability. Dr. Brown was kind enough to pay Western State Hospital and WKPIC a visit, and to train psychology, social work, therapeutic recreation, Recovery Services, and all levels of nursing staff for an entire day.

 

We hope to use The Skills System to benefit patients with multiple hospitalizations due to emotional regulation issues related to chronic mental illness.

Friday Factoids: The Skills System

 

 

Julie F. Brown has modified DBT techniques for use with individuals with intellectual disabilities. The Skills System is comprised of skills and tools for effectively managing emotions, thoughts, and actions. Her guide for clinicians, The Skills System Instructor’s Guide: An Emotion Regulation Skills Curriculum for All Learning Abilities (2011) can be purchased through Amazon.

 

See her website www.theskillssystem.com for more information about this practical approach. Several psychologists in our department have been trained on this system and are finding it extremely useful in our work at the hospital.

 

 

Danielle M. McNeill, M.S., M.A.
Doctoral Intern
Western State Hospital