DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a research-based empirically validated protocol developed by Marsha M. Linehan, Ph.D. at the University of Washington, in Seattle. The treatment was developed for people with Borderline Personality Disorder. It has now been validated for a variety of other disorders, such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, addictions, eating disorders, mood disorders, impulse control disorders, personality disorders, and for those with otherself-injurious behaviors.
Our goal is to reduce extended costs, hospitalizations, and assist people in improving their quality of life...to make a life worth living.
COMMITMENT
Individuals that are interested in learning these skills must make a commitment to live prior to enrolling in DBT Therapy. There must be a long-term commitment to work within the guidelines of therapy, attend weekly skills training group therapy sessions, and must be actively involved in weekly individual therapy by one of our DBT therapists or by an outside therapist committed to DBT Skills Training.
It is required that each person contract to reduce suicidal and self-injurious behavior; to work on behaviors that interfere with therapy; and to attend skills training groups and individual therapy weekly. Groups are two and a half hours in length with a fifteen minute break.
Skills are acquired, strengthened, and generalized through the combination of skills groups, individual therapy, phone coaching (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), and homework assignments.