Dr. Mark Carlson

Dr. Mark Carlson, is the founder, CEO, and co-owner of Mental Health Systems, PC (MHS). MHS is one of the largest DBT-specialized clinics in the upper Midwest with three locations and 35 active DBT groups. He is also the Vice-President of Dialectical Behavior Therapy National Certification and Accreditation Association (DBTNCAA). He has served as the Clinical Director of multiple clinics including one of the largest Rule-29 clinics in the Midwest before leaving to start MHS.

He has provided over 7000 hours of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to clients in an intensive outpatient group format and has provided clinical supervision to the care of over 2000 clients with co-morbid Axis I and II Disorders. He has applied and supervised DBT across multiple levels of care and has provided training and consultation to therapists, teams, case-management agencies, and mental health clinics.

Dr. Carlson has presented on DBT, Personality Disorders, Self-Injurious Behaviors, and Treatment-Resistant Clients, and Rethinking Borderline Personality Disorder: A Strength-Based Approach, with a common emphasis on practical approaches to complex client situations.

His current clinical outcome studies include the development of a subscale on the Treatment Outcome Package (TOP) specific to a DBT population and a longitudinal study on hospitalization rates for MHS’ clients before, during, and after treatment.

Beyond DBT, Dr. Carlson is interested in evidence-based practices, training and consultation with staff in local school districts, and the development of programming for MI/CD populations.

He lives in Eagan, MN, with his wife, son, and two dogs.

Membership management services provided by CMI Education Institute.

Philosophy

Certification and accreditation exists to benefit consumers.
DBT providers and programs will be most effective when Evidence-Based Practice in Psychology (EBPP) is applied with fidelity to the approved policy of the American Psychological Association (APA).

DBTNCAA partners with The Heart and Soul of Change Project

One of the requirements of DBT certification is the ongoing collection of clinical outcomes. We frequently field questions about effective outcome management. While there are many reliable and valid methods of monitoring outcomes to use in the clinical process, DBTNCAA has partnered with The Heart and Soul of Change Project to highlight an inexpensive, practical, and evidence-based method that can be used across DBT setti

Practice-Based Intensives Take Off

Having just returned from great conferences with fun, sharp, and outstanding audiences from St Louis, MO and Portland OR (and around the country), I am looking forward to the upcoming Intensive in Ellicott City, MD June 25th through 28th. This event is also webcast for those who cannot attend live. Click the training banner on the main page for more information.

Practice-Based Intensives in Australia, October 2013

October 2013 brings a two-day Practice-Based Intensive to Australia. Sponsored by Tatra Allied and Corporate Health Training, this training is offered in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, and it meets most of the education requirements for DBT certification. Visit www.tatratraining.com for more information.