Why DBT?
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is an evidence based psychotherapy—it’s been proven to work through more than thirty years of research. The approach builds on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), another evidence based approach that has seventy years of research behind it. The core philosophy that underlies DBT is the balance between acceptance (mindfulness) and change (CBT) strategies. Research has shown that without the acceptance strategies of DBT, the change based strategies of CBT are less effective.
Unlike traditional psychotherapy DBT is a skills based program which means that treatment is not intended to be ongoing over the long term—the goal of DBT is to provide patients with the skills to thrive through a time-limited program of individual and group therapy.
Skills Based
DBT is based on four skill modules including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.
Cumulative Curriculum
Skills build on each other over the course of the treatment. Treatment starts with easy to learn skills and gets progressively more challenging.
Research Supported
With hundreds of favorable research studies completed DBT has been recognized as an evidence-based program by the American Psychiatric Association.
Time Boxed
DBT treatment typically follows a one year program of weekly meetings though some patients may complete the process more quickly.
Dialectic Foundation
DBT incorporates both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness thereby offering a balance of acceptance and change strategies.
Goal Oriented
Clients work collaboratively with the therapist to define target behaviors for modification. Skills are then applied to decrease negative behaviors and promote positive ones.
Team Supported
Patients are supported not only by their individual therapist but also by their individual therapist’s consult team thus ensuring the highest-level of care.
Extended Support
In DBT practice therapy sessions are supplemented with skills-based coaching during extended hours by telephone.