DBT Training in Shenzhen: Culture and Clinical Complexity
Next month, Youth & Family Institute’s Founder and Clinical Director, Dr. Marcus Rodriguez, will return to China for his latest DBT training in Shenzhen, with additional stops in Beijing and Chengdu. Even better, he’ll be joined by his closest friends on a trip he has been planning for years.
Of course, it’s not only about hot pot, pandas, and camping on the Great Wall. Dr. Rodriguez and his wife and co-trainer, Julia Xiao-Rodriguez, LMFT, will also continue their collaboration with Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, where they led a 3-day DBT training last September.
Building Long-Term Partnerships
Since 2020, Dr. Rodriguez and Julia have partnered with Shenzhen Kangning clinicians. What began as a Harvard Medical School collaboration has grown into a lasting relationship with a DBT team they now consider colleagues and friends.
Last year, in addition to their standard program, they were invited to lead live demonstrations, including a parent coaching session and a DBT skills group with teens in residential care. It was both challenging and deeply rewarding.
Exploring Clinical Complexity Across Cultures
This year, six participants will present case formulations for consultation. Dr. Rodriguez is especially eager to explore how culture shapes the understanding of clinical complexity in DBT training in Shenzhen. At the same time, he hopes to learn from the innovative ways these clinicians deliver care despite limited resources.
Trainings often run from 9am–9pm with only short breaks. Remarkably, last year’s participants suggested just one change: longer days, more content. Their dedication is both energizing and inspiring.
Shared Values in DBT Training
As before, the program will be offered free of charge to participants. That accessibility aligns closely with Julia’s and Dr. Rodriguez’s shared values—and with YFI’s mission of delivering culturally responsive DBT training worldwide.
At the Youth & Family Institute, we create cross-cultural trainings that strengthen global mental health outcomes.
Closer to home, YFI provides CBT and DBT treatment for children and teens from Century City, La Cañada, Los Angeles, and Brentwood. Our clinicians specialize in ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, and emotional dysregulation.
If your organization would like to host DBT training in Shenzhen or elsewhere, or if your family could benefit from compassionate, evidence-based care, contact us today.
