Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is an evidenced-based outpatient treatment program that has been proven effective for individuals who have challenges regulating their emotions and tolerating distress, maintaining relationships, and have behaviors that are barriers to living their lives effectively. The research that proves effectiveness in this modality is based off a FULL DBT program.
A Full DBT Comprehensive Program has core elements. If a program does not have these elements, it is NOT full DBT, it is called informed DBT. The core elements are as follows:
Adolescents:
o Time limited commitment of weekly individual therapy (aprox. 52 weeks). Each session is structured with mindfulness, diary cards, behavioral chain analysis and skill building in phase one of DBT.
o Time limited commitment of weekly skills group training (aprox. 52 weeks) which includes mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance. One parent/caretaker attends with client
o Phone coaching
o Clinician is involved in a consultation team and meets 1.5 hours per week to provide comprehensive treatment
Adults:
o Time limited commitment of weekly individual therapy (aprox. 52 weeks) Each session is structured with mindfulness, diary cards, behavioral chain analysis and skill building in phase one of DBT.
o Time limited commitment of weekly skills group training (aprox. 52 weeks)that includes mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance.
o Phone coaching
o Clinician is involved in a consultation team and meets 1.5 hours per week to provide comprehensive treatment
o Family members/support person(s) are encouraged to be involved in treatment and can also join family education groups
Central Florida Counseling Center, Inc. has a Full DBT Program!
For further explanation of DBT, see video below: