How long does it take to complete the DBT program?

The majority of our clients engage in DBT therapy for about a year though the length of your treatment can vary significantly depending on your goals, severity of your diagnosis, and whether or not you’re part of an informed DBT program or a comprehensive program. Some clients work with us for as little as three months. 

Comprehensive care involves about a year of individual therapy and seven concurrent months of participation in a DBT skills group. Typically, clients start individual therapy before starting their participation in a skills group. After the group is complete they start the process of winding down their individual therapy and conclude within a year. That said, some clients may want reduced support after this period and continue with therapy for longer. 

Many clients who are in our informed DBT program have a shorter treatment duration. This might be because they do not need to participate in a skills group or because the nature of their goals make a shorter engagement possible. Note, we do not typically offer participation in our skills groups without being in individual therapy, though individual therapy can be done with an outside therapist.