Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is an evidence-based treatment approach that has shown to be the gold standard in reducing suicidal behavior, non-suicidal self-injury, psychiatric hospitalizations, substance use, eating disorders, PTSD, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation.

 

Components of Comprehensive DBT

 

1. DBT skills training group is focused on enhancing capabilities by teaching them the following behavioral skills: emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. The group is run like a class where the group leader teaches the skills and assigns homework to practice using the skills in everyday lives. Groups meet on a weekly basis for approximately 1.5 hours and take approximately 6 months to complete the full curriculum. Briefer schedules that teach only a subset of the skills are also available depending on the person's needs. 

2. DBT individual therapy is focused on enhancing  motivation and helping apply the skills to specific challenges and life events. In the standard DBT model, individual therapy takes place once a week for as long as the client is in therapy and runs concurrently with skills groups.

3. DBT phone coaching is focused on providing in-the-moment coaching on how to use skills to effectively cope with difficult situations that arise in everyday life. Clients can call or text their therapist between sessions to receive coaching at the times when they need help the most.

 

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