Amy Kalasunas (she/her), LPCC-S, CCMHC, is a behaviorist with over 25 years of experience working within evidence-based treatment models. A DBT-Linehan Board of Certification™ Certified Clinician, she has extensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and its sub-specialty areas of DBT for Eating Disorders, DBT- Prolonged Exposure for Borderline Personality Disorder, and DBT supervision and consultation team adherence practice.
A co-chair for the DBT LBC™ Publications and Communications Committee, Amy is also a highly regarded instructor and trainer, and a sought-after presenter on the topics of comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), DBT and Multi-diagnostic Eating Disorders (MED-DBT), and DBT-Prolonged Exposure and Eating Disorders. She developed, piloted, and offers trainings on interventions for parents of multi-diagnostic adult children using an adaptation of the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) protocol and DBT.
Her clinical work has included developing, implementing and evaluating program outcomes across the spectrum of clinical settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, Partial Hospitalization Programs, Intensive Outpatient Programs, community mental health agencies, specialty practice clinics and private practice offices.
Expanding on Acceptance and Change: Helping Parents of Multi-diagnostic Adult Children find Synthesis with DBT & SPACE
This intermediate workshop will review the rationale for combining Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with an adaptation of Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) to help parents struggling with a multi-diagnostic adult child. Participants learn the functional role of accommodation and will review practical interventions that promote “right-sized” changes for parents. The training also models application of specific DBT skills to target urges, thoughts, and emotions that parents identify as fueling accommodation. Less...
Learning Objectives
- Explain the rationale for using DBT and SPACE with parents of multi-diagnostic adult children
- Describe the dialectics of accommodation for parents and adult children
- Define the forms of parental accommodation and explain how they reinforce ineffective behaviors
- Describe the importance of creating a supportive statement for parents and their adult children and finding synthesis as parental accommodation is reduced
- Identify practical applications of how each DBT skill module behaviorally supports parents in reducing accommodation and increases capabilities in adult children
Learning Levels
- Intermediate
Wednesday, October 08, 2025
Live Interactive Webinar
11:00 AM EDT - 06:30 PM EDT
EARN 6 CE Credit Hours
About the speaker
Amy Kalasunas, LPCC-S, CCMHC
Chief Operating Officer, Director of DBT Services, DBT-Linehan Board of Certification Certified Clinician™, Center for Evidence Based Treatment
CE Information - Earn 6 CE Credit Hours
CE Approvals
National Board of Certified Counselors
Center for Evidence Based Treatment, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7697. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Center for Evidence Based Treatment, LLC, is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.