Are your emotions leading you to extreme or self-destructive behaviors? Do you struggle with issues such as:
- Anger
- Impulsive behavior
- Self-injury
- Binge-eating or restricting food
- Substance abuse
- Difficulty forming or maintaining relationships
If so, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) could be an effective treatment option for you.
At Aspect Counseling and Psychiatry, our DBT therapists are trained to understand the challenges you face and can help you develop new, effective ways to manage your emotions, solve problems, and create a life that feels meaningful.
We offer DBT programs for adolescents, adults, and families, helping you build valuable skills to better manage your emotions, navigate life’s challenges, and improve relationships with loved ones, all with less conflict and more peace.
What is DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was developed by Marsha Linehan, PhD, and is an evidence-based treatment specifically designed for individuals facing intense emotional struggles. It is particularly effective for those dealing with dysregulated emotions, self-harm behaviors, suicidal thoughts or attempts, impulsivity, unstable relationships, and difficulties with identity and self-esteem.
DBT is commonly used to help individuals diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), though it is also effective for addressing co-occurring conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse.
What Conditions Can DBT Help With?
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- Self-harming behaviors
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Eating disorders (especially binge eating and bulimia)
- Substance abuse
- Mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety
- Emotional dysregulation or difficulty managing emotion
Core Components of DBT
DBT consists of four key components:
Individual Therapy
One-on-one therapy where the client works with a therapist to address specific issues and apply DBT skills.
Skills Training Group
Group sessions where clients learn and practice DBT skills, including mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Phone Coaching
Clients can contact their therapist between sessions for guidance on using DBT skills in real-life situations.
Consultation Team
Therapists meet regularly in a team to support each other and ensure that the treatment is effective and adheres to DBT principles.
DBT Skills
DBT focuses on teaching the following skills:
- Mindfulness: Skills for being present in the moment and observing thoughts and feelings without judgment.
- Distress Tolerance: Skills for tolerating and coping with difficult situations without making them worse.
- Emotional Regulation: Skills for managing and adjusting intense emotions in a healthy way.
Is DBT Trustworthy & Effective?
This treatment approach focuses on teaching skills to help individuals better manage their emotions, improve relationships, and build a stronger sense of self, ultimately working toward a life worth living. DBT is a highly specialized treatment, and its effectiveness depends on receiving the right form of therapy from well-trained professionals. By carefully assessing the program’s credentials, approach, and reputation, you can ensure that you are receiving high-quality, legitimate DBT treatment.
Here are some questions to help you determine if a DBT program is trustworthy and effective:
- Are there clear inclusion and exclusion criteria for the program?
- Does the program offer DBT skills training group and individual DBT for each client?
- Do all DBT therapists attend DBT Consultation Team on a weekly basis?
- Do DBT therapists provide after-hours phone coaching to their clients in the program?
- Is treatment time limited (approximately 12 months)?
- Do clients have the option to renew their 12 month treatment contract contingent upon progress and improvement?
- Does the program apply the 24-hour rule?
- Does the DBT program have an attendance policy (i.e. 4 miss rule)?
- Does the program collect outcome data?
- Does the length of the program allow for 2 full rotations of the DBT skills in group?
- Is the program structured so that DBT is offered as a complete and comprehensive package of services (i.e. group, individual, phone coaching, and
team consultation)? - Does the DBT team review and practice the DBT Team Consultation Agreements?
- Are clients provided with individualized weekly DBT Diary Cards?
- Do clients receive commitment/orientation sessions to determine appropriateness, fully orient to DBT, and set treatment goals prior to starting
the program? - Have all members of the team undergone foundational, intensive, or extensive training in DBT?
Adult DBT Therapy
Aspect Counseling and Psychiatry offers DBT programs that are comprehensive, which means they faithfully follow the model established by Marsha Linehan. Our DBT programs include all four treatment components: individual therapy, group skills training, phone coaching, and team consultation.
Our adult DBT program consists of the following components:
DBT Skills Training Groups
These groups focus on helping clients develop the coping skills necessary to solve problems and achieve their personal goals. Participants learn practical strategies to manage emotions, enhance relationships, and create lasting change.
Individual DBT Therapy
In addition to attending skills training groups, clients are required to participate in individual therapy. In these sessions, clients explore the behaviors and stressors that hinder their ability to live the life they desire. Individual therapy builds on the skills learned in group, providing a personalized approach to overcoming challenges.
DBT Phone Coaching
Available to all clients in our DBT program, phone coaching offers support outside of regular therapy sessions. Clients can contact their therapist for guidance on using DBT skills to manage urges related to suicide, self-harm, or other problematic behaviors, providing a valuable resource during moments of crisis.
Adolescent DBT Therapy
Our adolescent DBT therapy program is specifically tailored to address the unique challenges that arise between parents and teens. This program modifies traditional DBT to better fit the adolescent experience, with a special focus on the Middle Path—a strategy to help teens and their parents find common ground between their differing perspectives.
Similar to the adult DBT program, our adolescent program includes both DBT skills training groups and DBT-focused individual therapy. Parents actively participate in the DBT skills groups alongside their teens, where they learn how to communicate more effectively, coach their teens in applying DBT skills during challenging moments, and develop their own coping strategies to better support their child.