Complaint Procedure

DBTWise is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the American Psychological Association’s Sponsor Approval System and Ethical Principles of Psychologists. DBTWise will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content, and in the treatment of program participants.

Final responsibility for compliance with APA CE Sponsor Approval Standards rests with the Director, Karyn Hall, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist. The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards is the responsibility of Dr. Hall.

While DBTWise goes to great lengths to assure fair treatment for all participants and attempts to anticipate problems, there will be occasional issues that require intervention and/or action. This procedure serves as a guideline for handling such grievances.

How to Submit a Complaint

Participants may submit a grievance in the following ways:

• Email: karynhallphd@gmail.com
• Phone: (713) 973-2800
• Written correspondence:
  DBTWise
  Attn: Dr. Karyn Hall
  1348 Heights Blvd
  Houston, TX 77008

Written complaints or grievances should include:

• Your name, address, and phone number
• The title of the Continuing Education program
• The date of the program
• The exact nature of the complaint or grievance

Complaint Process

1. Acknowledgment

All complaints will be acknowledged within five (5) business days of receipt

2. Review and Documentation

The Director will review the concern, document the issue, and assess whether it relates to program content, instructional delivery, ethical standards, accessibility, facilities, speaker performance, or administrative processes.

3. Independent Consultation

To ensure objectivity and fairness, particularly given that DBTWise is a single-person CE sponsor, the Director will consult with an independent licensed doctoral-level psychologist when addressing complaints. This consultation provides objective input and ensures that complaint resolution is fair and unbiased.

If the complaint concerns Dr. Hall as an instructor or involves a potential conflict of interest, an independent licensed psychologist will serve as the primary reviewer and mediator for the grievance process.

4. Resolution

Based on the review and consultation, appropriate corrective actions will be determined and implemented. Resolutions may include:

• Clarification of program content or policies
• Remediation or additional educational support
• Transfer to another workshop (when applicable)
• Credit toward a future DBTWise CE program
• Program modifications for future offerings
• Partial or full refund of workshop fees
• Other reasonable resolutions depending on the situation

5. Written Response

Participants will be informed in writing of the outcome of the review and any actions taken. DBTWise strives to resolve most complaints within 30 days of receipt, though complex issues may require additional time.

Confidentiality

All complaint information is handled confidentially. Confidential records of all complaints, the resolution process, and outcomes are maintained securely for a minimum of six years in accordance with APA requirements.

When a complaint concerns a speaker, comments will be passed to the speaker while assuring the confidentiality of the participant filing the complaint.

Appeal Rights

If a complaint cannot be resolved to the participant’s satisfaction through DBTWise’s internal procedures, the participant has the right to contact the American Psychological Association Office of CE Sponsor Approval:

American Psychological Association
Office of Continuing Education in Psychology
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Phone: (202) 336-5968
Email: ce@apa.org

Availability of This Procedure

A copy of this Grievance Procedure is available upon request.

Questions

If you have questions about this grievance procedure, please contact:

Dr. Karyn Hall, Director
DBTWise
1348 Heights Blvd
Houston, TX 77008
Phone: (713) 973-2800
Email: karynhallphd@gmail.com

Effective Date: 2019
Last Reviewed: January 2026