DBT is a compassionate, evidence-based treatment for individuals who have significant difficulty regulating emotions and behaviors.
Developed during the 1980s by Dr. Marsha Linehan, DBT is a specialized form of cognitive behavior therapy that was originally designed to treat adults with interpersonal problems, strong emotional swings, impulsivity, confusion about self (identity) and suicidal behavior. An overarching focus of DBT is on learning the skills necessary to cope with intense and painful mood states. Therefore DBT is appropriate for a range of additional problems that relate to intense emotionality, including disordered eating, substance use problems, and anger management. Given the success of DBT for adults (indicated in nine scientific trials), CBCW's own Dr. Alec Miller joined with Dr. Jill Rathus and Dr. Linehan to adapt DBT to adolescents who were struggling to regulate emotions and behaviors.
For both adults and teens, DBT is intended to help the individual move toward a life that feels more meaningful and worth living. Distress, interpersonal difficulties, and behavioral problems such as not attending school or work, using substances, self-injuring or attempting suicide, losing control, withdrawing, and destroying relationships can make it incredibly difficult to function normally and lead a satisfying life. DBT targets the issues that cause distress and teaches skills to deal with them without having to resort to self-damaging behaviors. A unique aspect of DBT is it's compassionate and realistic framework: it helps us understand that we are doing the best we can, even though we need to learn ways that work better. Although DBT incorporates particular techniques and philosophies, it is not a "one-size-fits all" approach. A great deal of time is spent helping the client to develop individualized treatment goal and to ensure that treatment is responsive to his/her specific needs.
DBT targets the issues that cause distress and teaches skills to deal with them.
The Adolescent DBT Program at CBCW
For DBT to be successful, the treatment must do two things effectively: 1) teach skills that people need in order to move closer toward their life goals; 2) help people develop an ability to consistently use these skills in their daily life, and to problem-solve emotions and thoughts that are obstacles to effective skills use. In order to accomplish all this, DBT is a comprehensive treatment program with multiple treatment modes. Specifically, teenagers and their families are asked to agree to the following components: weekly individual psychotherapy for the teen, 20-week skills class for teens and families, as-needed phone coaching for the teen and for the parents, and periodic family sessions. In addition, the DBT treatment providers meet together weekly to consult with one another in order to provide the most effective and efficient treatment possible. In later phases of treatment, teenagers may apply for entry into the DBT graduate group if they show sufficient progress.
The Adult DBT Program at CBCW
For DBT to be successful, the treatment must do two things effectively: 1) teach skills that people need in order to move closer toward their life goals; 2) help people develop an ability to consistently use these skills in their daily life, and to problem-solve emotions and thoughts that are obstacles to effective skills use. In order to accomplish all this, DBT is a comprehensive treatment program with multiple treatment modes. Specifically, individuals are asked to agree to the following components: weekly individual psychotherapy, a skills class lasting for six months, and as-needed phone coaching. In addition, the DBT treatment providers meet together weekly to consult with one another in order to provide the most effective and efficient treatment possible.
