Personality Disorders Counseling Certificate Training Program

Description

This program consists of two live, interactive webinars held on August 7, 2026 and August 14, 2026, from 11am-6pm Eastern Daylight Time.

Registration in this bundle includes access to both webinars and the Personality Disorders CounselingCertificate (PDCC) upon completion.

Registration closes at midnight (EDT) the day before the first event

Personality-disordered presentations can leave even experienced clinicians feeling frustrated, stuck, and disheartened—especially when the literature feels fragmented and disorganized, and myths about “untreatable” clients creep into the room. This 12-hour certificate program cuts through that fog with a clear, evidence-informed framework for assessing, conceptualizing, and treating DSM-5 personality disorders with more structure, confidence, and hope.

If you’ve wanted a practical, comprehensive way to work with these diagnoses—without falling into common therapeutic traps—this training offers a welcoming path forward, with concrete strategies you can apply across a wide range of personality presentations.

Jeff Riggenbach, Ph.D., brings 20 years of specialized focus on thinking and personality styles, along with extensive training and consultation experience across clinical, educational, and organizational settings. He trained personally with Marsha Linehan, as well as with Drs. Aaron and Judith Beck at The Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research, and he has spent 15 years refining an integrated DBT/CBT/Schema Therapy program for personality disorders. His work is grounded in helping clinicians move from confusion and burnout toward clarity, effectiveness, and sustainable clinical confidence.

In this program, Dr. Riggenbach teaches in a structured, step-by-step way that helps you understand the “core” dynamics driving personality pathology—and then translate that understanding into actionable engagement, management, and treatment strategies. You’ll learn how to recognize patterns quickly, avoid predictable pitfalls, and use an integrated model to guide decision-making across all DSM-5 personality disorders.

Topics include how our understanding of personality pathology has evolved since DSM-I, why “Axis II” existed, and how current conceptualizations differentiate categorical versus dimensional models. You’ll review the often-overlooked characteristics required for a personality disorder diagnosis, then work through each DSM-5 personality disorder with key differential diagnosis points and practical engagement and management strategies. The program then moves into deeper treatment avenues using an integrated DBT/CBT/Schema-Focused model, with application guidance for each of the ten DSM-5 personality disorders—so you can move beyond stabilization into meaningful, structured treatment.

Key Takeaways

• Clearer case conceptualization: Learn how to get to the core of personality pathology and organize complex presentations into a workable clinical map.
• More effective engagement and management: Identify common pitfalls and therapeutic traps—and apply strategies that reduce stuckness and escalation in-session.
• A practical integrated treatment foundation: Build a treatment-informed framework using an integrated DBT/CBT/Schema-Focused model that supports deeper work beyond rapport and stabilization.

Why this course?

• Hope + evidence-informed perspective: Personality Disorders can be treated, and this program is built to help clinicians practice from that reality instead of outdated assumptions.
• A uniquely integrated, clinician-centered approach: You’ll learn an integrated DBT/CBT/Schema Therapy framework designed to bring order to a topic that often feels fragmented and disorganized.
• Training aligned with TCI’s standards: Telehealth Certification Institute is committed to excellence, integrity, and practical growth—so you leave with strategies you can use immediately to make your work easier and more effective.

By the end of this certificate program, you’ll have a more comprehensive, empowering approach to assess, conceptualize, and treat a population that often leaves clinicians feeling depleted. If you’re ready for clearer clinical direction—and a renewed sense that meaningful change is possible—this training is designed to support you in that next step.

Learning Objectives:

After participating in Assessment and Management of Personality Disorders: Understanding the Hidden Agenda participants will be able to:

• Analyze the diagnostic criteria and explain key differential diagnosis considerations for each of the 10 DSM 5 personality disorders.
• Identify etiological and epidemiological factors associated with each.
• List the 5 characteristics that differentiate PDs from other psychological conditions.
• Assess the treatability of each of the 10 personality disorders.
• Describe the 18 early maladaptive schemas driving target behaviors, including historical, cultural, and other environmental risk factors influencing them.
• Plan management strategies for all 10 DSM 5 personality disorders.

After participating in Evidence-Based Treatments for Personality Disorders participants will be able to:

• Discuss 8 evidence-based treatments for personality disorders.
• Describe 5 characteristics unique to treating these diagnoses effectively.
• Explain 18 early maladaptive schemas driving target behaviors, including historical, cultural, and other environmental risk factors influencing them.
• Design case conceptualization diagrams to drive treatment planning, agenda setting, and documentation.
• Describe 3 schema modes in narcissism and design mode work strategies. 
• Compare the 2 types of relapse prevention sessions with the typical course of care sessions.

Format and Access

This program consists of two live, interactive webinars.

Course Details

Schedule for both August 7 and August 14, 2026: (listed in Eastern Daylight Time)

• 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Lecture
• 12:00 pm - 12:05 pm Q&A
• 12:05 pm - 12:15 pm Break
• 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm Lecture
• 1:15 pm - 1:20 pm Q&A
• 1:20 pm - 1:50 pm Lunch
• 1:50 pm - 2:55 pm Lecture
• 2:55 pm - 3:05 pm Q&A
• 3:05 pm - 3:15 pm Break
• 3:15 pm - 4:20 pm Lecture
• 4:20 pm - 4:30 pm Q&A
• 4:30 pm - 4:40 pm Break
• 4:40 pm - 5:50 pm Lecture
• 5:50 pm - 6:00 pm Q&A

How to Attend: 

Course access and completion instructions.

Who Should Attend: 

This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.

Teaching Methods: 

This is a live, interactive webinar. Enrollment includes access to live event(s) but does not include recordings of the presentations.

Instructor and Disclosures

Instructor

About Jeff Riggenbach, Ph.D.

Jeff Riggenbach, PhD, is a best-selling and award-winning author/speaker/clinician who has trained audiences in all 50 United States, Canada, Mexico, The UK, Ireland, Malta, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. He has devoted the past 25 years to developing advanced expertise in cognition and personality. He personally trained at The Beck Institute of Cognitive Therapy and Research to develop his hospital's Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment Program, which has not treated over 500 patients with BPD across multiple levels of care. He has since developed and directed cognitive-behavioral based programs for Depression, Anxiety Disorders, and Addictive Behavior Disorders. Jeff's approach of taking evidence-based treatments and presenting them in ways that can be used by everyday clinicians "in the trenches" has earned him the nickname "The Practical Toolbox Guy," and his trainings often receive the highest marks from conference participants.

Disclosure Statement: 

The instructor(s) for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.

CE Hours

Credit Hours:

This program consists of a total of 12 continuing education hours of credit. (each course offers a separate certificate of completion)

Counselors:

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No, 6693.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0048.

Marriage and Family Therapists:

Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations.  You can check with your board to determine if your licensing board would accept this course.

Social Workers:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, #1609, is approved as an ACE provider 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: 05/02/2024 – 05/02/2027. Social workers completing this program receive 12 clinical continuing education credits.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0435.

Addiction Professionals:
 

This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

Psychologists:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.

Art Therapists:

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists #CAT-0093.

Other Professionals:

This course qualifies for 720 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations.  Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

This course is an-interactive, live online webinar.

Participants may request a printed version of their certificate of completion to be delivered by mail. A shipping/handling fee of $6.95 will be charged per request. Shipping internationally may require an additional charge.

Agreement

By registering for this event you are agreeing to the following:

• 24 hour notice is required if you are not able to make it to a live event. Recordings are not provided to webinar registrants.
• To update and test using Zoom.us/test before the event to ensure you are ready for the event.
• Since this is a live interactive event it means that your interaction during the event is expected.  Your name and image will be visible to other participants during the live event. You will NOT be included in any recording made.
• An evaluation must be completed within one week of the event. Continuing Education credit(s) cannot be issued unless you attend the event and the evaluation is submitted.  (Evaluation is not mandatory for APA hours)
• Partial CE credits are not possible; therefore you are required to be present throughout the event in order to receive CE credits.
• Respect all other participants during the event as though you would if you were sitting with the other attendees at a conference table:
  • Dress appropriately
  • Be in a private location void of distractions
  • Do not multitask
  • Do not drive during an event
  • Remain on mute unless you are sharing with the group

Accommodations and Policies

Close Captioning is available for live webinars and recorded video presentations.

You can click on the following links to view our policies:

• Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities.
• Cancellation Policy
• Grievance Policy
• Support Options
• Disclosure Statement