Nationally Approved Continuing Education

3 Credit Course

ACE, APA, NBCC, IDFPR approved CE course

Course Description

When emotional distress becomes intense, clients may act on urges that provide immediate relief but create larger problems afterward. 


This practical, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy-informed course helps clinicians understand why crisis-driven behavior can feel so compelling in the moment and why familiar coping skills often become difficult to access when arousal is high.


Participants will learn to distinguish situations that call for crisis-survival strategies from those requiring immediate safety intervention, problem-solving, or deeper emotional work.


The course introduces a brief, collaborative behavior-analysis framework for identifying how a crisis unfolded, what reinforced the behavior, and where a more effective response might have been possible. 


Participants will be able to select and troubleshoot crisis-survival strategies, identify common barriers to skill use, and help clients develop and mentally rehearse a personalized Cope Ahead plan for predictable future crises.

ASWB, APA, NBCC, State Board-approved online CE course

2 Repeating, Live Interactive Webinars

100% Course Attendance and Zoom registration are required. 

No partial credits. 


 (Attend only once)


November Live Webinar:

Friday, 

November 6, 2026, 

11 am to 2 pm CST


November registration DEADLINE: Wednesday, 11/4/2026, 5pm CST

OR:

December Live Webinar:

Monday, 

December 14, 2026, 

11 am to 2 pm CST


December registration DEADLINE: Friday, 12/11/2026, 5pm EST

 

Presentation Schedule 

Pacific Time

Mountain Time

Central Time 

Eastern Time

9 am to 12 pm

10 am to 1 pm

11 am to 2 pm

12 pm to 3 pm


CE AMOUNT: 3 CE credits


Presentation Course Agenda Timetable 

00:00-00:15 (Hour: Minute)

Course Objective 1
Understanding High-Distress Moments
Defining crisis, recognizing escalating distress, and distinguishing acute safety concerns from situations appropriate for skills-based intervention.

00:15-00:30 

Course Objective 1
What Does This Moment Need?
Differentiating crisis-survival needs from immediate safety intervention, problem-solving, and longer-term emotional processing.

00:30-1:05

Course Objective 2
Getting Through a Crisis Without Making It Worse
DBT crisis-survival strategies: STOP, TIPP, Wise Mind ACCEPTS, Self-Soothe, IMPROVE the Moment, and Pros and Cons; matching strategies to distress level, immediate clinical needs, environment, and barriers to skill use.

1:05–1:10 — Break

1:10–1:35

Course Objective 2
Beyond Crisis Survival: Responding to Emotions and Urges
Check the Facts, Opposite Action, and Self-Validation; selecting interventions based on emotions, interpretations, urges, and immediate clinical needs.

1:35–1:55

Course Objective 2
Why “Here Are Some Skills” Isn’t Enough
 Common barriers to skill use during high distress; improving skill fit, accessibility, personalization, rehearsal, and recall.

1:55–2:20

Course Objective 3
Understanding the Chain of Events: Brief Behavior Analysis
Identifying vulnerabilities, prompting events, links, crisis urges and behaviors, short-term reinforcement, long-term consequences, and potential intervention points.

2:20–2:25 — Break

2:25–2:45

Course Objective 3
Finding the Best Place to Intervene
Using findings from the behavior analysis to identify high-risk links and select skillful alternatives based on the client’s arousal, urges, environment, and likely barriers.

2:45–3:00

Course Objective 3
Planning for the Next High-Distress Moment
Developing and rehearsing a personalized Cope Ahead plan that includes vulnerabilities, predictable cues, warning signs, skillful responses, foreseeable obstacles, backup options, and rehearsal.

---end---

 


How to get your CE credit: 

  1. Participate in 100% of the course. 
  2. Complete an evaluation. SUBMIT your EXAM; Pass the exam with an 80% score or higher. 
  3. Only by seeing your score do you know the submission was successful. 
  4.  If you failed your exam, you can retake. 
  5. By passing the exam, you will be issued a CE certificate PDF file via email within 24 hours.
  6. Check your inbox and spam folder.


What you will learn from this video course:

Course Learning Outcome Objectives

  • 1. Participants will be able to differentiate at least three clinical situations that call for short-term crisis-survival strategies from those requiring immediate safety intervention, problem-solving, or longer-term emotional processing.

  • 2. Participants will be able to select and explain at least four DBT-informed crisis-survival strategies based on a client’s level of distress, immediate clinical needs, environment, and likely barriers to skill use.

  • 3. Participants will be able to apply a brief crisis behavior-analysis framework and use the findings to develop the core components of a personalized Cope Ahead plan, including vulnerabilities, prompting events, crisis urges, skillful alternatives, foreseeable obstacles, and rehearsal steps.

Instructor

Suzette Bray, MA, LMFT

Author, Dialectical Behavior Therapy expert

Suzette Bray, MA, LMFT, is a psychotherapist, author, and clinical trainer with more than 25 years of experience working with emotional dysregulation, borderline personality disorder, recurrent crises, impulsive behavior, and treatment-interfering patterns. She earned her master’s degree in marital and family therapy and is licensed as a marriage and family therapist in California and Arizona. Suzette founded and directed a comprehensive dialectical behavior therapy program serving adults and adolescents for more than a decade. Her clinical and training work focuses on translating DBT principles into practical, non-stigmatizing interventions that clinicians can use in routine practice, including distress-tolerance skills, behavioral assessment, crisis-survival planning, and strategies for improving clients’ use of coping skills outside therapy. She is the author of four mental-health books and workbooks, most recently: Simple DBT Coping Skills: 75 Ways to Live Mindfully, Regulate Emotions, Manage Distress and Improve Relationships.

Course curriculum

    1. This video show you how to use this course platform- Guide to Navigate the Course Interface for online Lessons

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Accessibility-- turn on captions for video (optional)

      FREE PREVIEW

    1. Live Course Info

    2. Zoom Registration for 11/06/2026 -DBT for High Stress Moments 3CE live webinar

    3. Zoom Registration for 12/14/2026-DBT for High Stress Moments 3CE

    4. Course Description:

      FREE PREVIEW

    5. Learning Objectives:

      FREE PREVIEW

    6. Presenter Bio: Suzette Bray, MA, LMFT,

      FREE PREVIEW

    7. References

      FREE PREVIEW

    1. Evaluation

    2. How to get the CE certificate

About this course

  • $95.00
  • 11 lessons

Approved CE provider

Spring Advisory, PLLC, provider #2339, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period 06/25/2026 to 06/25/2027. Social Workers completing this course receive 3 clinical continuing education credits. 

Image of NBCC continuing Education Provider logo on the left and with Spring Advisory logo on the right. Spring Advisory, PLLC has been approved by The National Board For Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7169. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Spring Advisory, PLLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.


Spring Advisory, PLLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Spring Advisory, PLLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.


Spring Advisory is an ATCB Authorized Art Therapy Continuing Education (AATCE) Provider #99054500

Spring Advisory is an Illinois Social Work CE Sponsor, #159.001540

Spring Advisory is an Illinois Psychologist CE Sponsor, #268.000141

Spring Advisory is an Illinois Marriage and Family Therapy CE Sponsor, #168.000265


To ensure compliance with licensing board requirements, all CE courses expire 180 days after registration.


CE Requirements and Disclaimer

  • All registration expires after 180 days. 
  • Target Audience: post-masters to post-doctoral level clinicians. 
  • There is no known conflict of interest or commercial support in this program. 
  • If you require assistance or accommodations for accessibility, please email [email protected]. 
  • You can find our refund and cancellation policy on our website’s terms of use. By using our website, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of use.
  • SOCIAL WORKERS must complete an evaluation for this course, in addition to passing a post-test at 80% score or higher. If you failed your exam, you can retake. 
  • By taking this course, you are required to pass an exam by 80% about the course content in order to obtain your CE Credits and Certificates via email. If you fail your exam, you can retake.
  • After passing the exam, certificates are issued within the same 24-hour period. Unforeseen technical failure may cause delays. Please email [email protected] for any issues.  
  • It is our goal to help maintain and advance the knowledge and skills of doctoral-level psychologists. APA-approved Continuing education (CE) in psychology is an ongoing process consisting of formal learning activities that (1) are relevant to psychological practice, education, and/or science; (2) enable psychologists to keep pace with the most current scientific evidence regarding assessment, prevention, intervention, and/or education, as well as important relevant legal, statutory, leadership, or regulatory issues; and (3) allow psychologists to maintain, develop, and increase competencies in order to improve services to the public and enhance contributions to the profession. 


  • To ensure a smooth experience, please do these things to ensure you get your CE credit Certificate:
    1. Take the course on a laptop or desktop computer, NOT ON THE PHONE, using the most updated software available. Watch the training video in its entirety. 
    2. When completing your exam, do it ON A COMPUTER, spell your email address correctly. 
    3. Hit SUBMIT until the screen offers you to see YOUR SCORE. 
    4. CHECK IF YOU PASSED THE EXAM
    5. PASS= OVER80%
    6. FAIL=79% OR LESS
    7. If FAILED, RETAKE the exam. 
    8. Check your email spam folder. 
    9. Check the same email inbox you used for your exam. 
    10. If you experience technical issues while completing your exam, try the following:
      • Update your browser to the latest version
      • Refresh your browser
      • Try a different browser
      • Shut down your computer and restart it

Check out other courses:

APA, NBCC, IDFPR approved courses on supervision, demential, implicit bias, ethics, and multicultural competency

View more courses

FAQ

  • Q: I finished my course, where is my CE evaluation and exam link?

    A: On your course website, look on the left-hand side menu, and find the menu item to the CE eval and exam link. 

  • Q: I finished my exam, but I did not get my certificate, what happened?

    A: There are a few usual reasons: 1. Your email was misspelled. 2. You didn't hit SUBMIT when you finished your exam. OR, You did hit submit but the internet didn't catch it. 3. You didn't pass the exam. 4. It's in your spam folder. 5. Less common-The Internet failed when you submitted your exam. 6. Sometimes, other mechanical failures; we don't know. You can always retake the exam to get the certificate resent to you. 

  • Q. I passed the exam by 70%, where is my certificate?

    A: You must pass the exam by over 80% in order to obtain your CE certificate, go back to your course page and access the CE link, retake the exam until you pass by 80%. You will be awarded your CE certificate upon passing at 80% or above.

  • Q: I created an account and paid for the course, but when I go to the dashboard, I didn't see my course, what happened?

    A: You can only access your account dashboard using the email address you used to register the course.

How to use the Spring Advisory Course Website

Compatible Web Technology for Online Course

In order to make sure your course runs well, please make sure your desktop computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone, or smart device has the following:

  1. The most recent version of one of the web browsers in your PC or MAC computer. 
  2. Javascript enabled
  3. PDF plugin
  4. Graphic and audio output capability
  5. Broadband internet connection with a minimum speed of 5Mbps (recommended)
  6. TLS 1.2 is supported by your web browser