CHARLESTON DBT ASSOCIATES:
DBT TREATMENT PROGRAMS
BUILDING A LIFE WORTH LIVING
ADOLESCENTÂ DBT PROGRAM
Adolescent and Young Adult clients ages 14-18.
DBT for adolescents was developed by Alec Miller, Jill Rathus, and Marsha Linehan. This evidence-based approach is the gold standard of treatment for individuals suffering from emotion dysregulation, identity confusion, interpersonal difficulties, impulsivity, and at times risky or dangerous behaviors. This includes adolescents who present with high risk behaviors such as a history of past suicide attempts, self-injurious behaviors, maladaptive coping skills, previous behavioral health hospitalizations, trauma, and substance abuse. Clients do not have to meet all of these criteria in order to enter the CDBTA Adolescent DBT program.
​
In the CDBTA Adolescent DBT Program adolescent clients receive comprehensive DBT treatment, including all four components of full fidelity Dialectical Behavior Therapy. This means that adolescent clients attend weekly individual sessions with their DBT primary clinician, have access to phone coaching services for skill use outside of therapy sessions, attend weekly skills group and have their treatment overseen by the CDBTA consultation team.
The CDBTA Adolescent Skills Program includes a 28-week curriculum using Marsha Linehan’s Skills Training Manual to teach the DBT skills of mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance along with the Walking the Middle Path skills form DBT Skills Manual for adolescents published by Marsha Linehan, Alec Miller and Jill Rathus.
​
CDBTA’s comprehensive Adolescent DBT program is particularly effective for those adolescents requiring more comprehensive treatment than standard Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT).
Before beginning treatment clients undergo a thorough intake assessment with a DBT clinician in order to determine whether DBT is the most appropriate form of treatment given their symptoms and needs.
ADULT DBT PROGRAM
Adult Clients ages 18+
In the CDBTA Adult DBT Program, clients receive comprehensive DBT treatment, including all four components of full fidelity Dialectical Behavior Therapy adherent to the model developed and extensively researched by Marsha Linehan. This includes weekly individual therapy sessions, weekly skills group, between session phone coaching and treatment overseen by the CDBTA consultation team.
DBT has been extensively researched and is recognized as the most effective treatment for people with Borderline Personality Disorder, as well as those with self-injury or suicidal behaviors. In addition, research has shown that DBT is effective for a wide range of other disorders associated with difficulties in emotion regulation, including substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The CDBTA Adult DBT program includes attending 24 skills training sessions based on the curriculum of Marsha Linehan’s Skills Training Manual designed to teach the DBT skills of mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance.
Before beginning treatment clients undergo a thorough intake assessment with a DBT clinician in order to determine whether DBT is the most appropriate form of treatment given their symptoms and needs.
DBT-SUD PROGRAM
Clients ages 16+
CDBTA’s Dialectical Behavior for Substance Use Disorder (DBT-SUD) Program is an 8-week curriculum that ranges from 4-10 hours per week and can be completed 100% virtually or in a hybrid format with in-person individual sessions. Depending on treatment needs and symptom severity, this program may serve as a step down from Residential Treatment or as an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for clients as they building efficacy for a lower level of care.
In the CDBTA DBT-SUD Program, clients are provided with all components of standard comprehensive DBT, adherent to the model developed and researched by Marsha Linehan & Linda Dimeff. This includes weekly individual therapy sessions, weekly skills group, and between session phone coaching. In addition, there is an emphasis on both abstinence and harm reduction models, targeted interventions to enhance motivation and maintain participation in treatment, and DBT skills developed specifically for the DBT-SUD population. These enhancements to standard DBT are included in both the individual and group components of treatment.
​
CDBTA’s DBT-SUD program is designed for clients whose highest order target is substance use within the category of behaviors that interfere with their quality of life. SUD-specific behavioral targets include: ​​
​
-
Lowering urges, cravings, and temptations
-
Reducing behaviors that contribute to substance use
-
Avoiding opportunities and cues to substance use
-
Alleviating physical discomfort related to abstinence or withdrawal
-
Increasing community reinforcement of constructive behaviors, such as fostering the development of new relationships, rekindling supportive friendships, pursuing social/vocational activities, and seeking environments that support abstinence
-
Decreasing substance abuse and maintaining abstinence
​​
After completing this 8-week DBT-SUD course of treatment, clients may be recommended to repeat the course for an additional 6 weeks, continue in a comprehensive or informed DBT program model, or reduce to individual sessions only; based on their treatment needs and remaining treatment targets.
​
Before beginning treatment clients undergo a thorough intake assessment with a DBT clinician in order to determine whether DBT-SUD is the most appropriate form of treatment given their symptoms and needs.
DBT-INFORMED TREATMENT
Adult clients ages 18+
DBT-informed treatment incorporates the principles of DBT but doesn’t require all the aspects or stages of the complete program. With this approach, only the methods that are most needed are used. In DBT-informed, different training and skills can be utilized to meet the individual needs of a client rather than moving through specific stages. Implementing certain aspects or adaptations of DBT may be more cost effective while offering greater flexibility for clients. For those with acute symptoms, comprehensive DBT is often the most effective approach to treatment.
At CDBTA, we understand that although many people could benefit from components of DBT not all client’s treatment needs require comprehensive DBT. With a DBT-Informed approach, only the methods that are most needed are used. DBT-informed treatment does not include all five of the components of comprehensive DBT (improving motivation, enhancing capabilities, ensuring generalization, maintaining the skills and motivation of treatment providers, and enhancing the client’s environment).
Fellows and Interns training with CDBTA to provide comprehensive DBT offer both DBT-Informed individual sessions and a virtual skills group. Research supports the effectiveness of partial implementation of DBT, with most of the research showing support for implementation of the skills-group-only approach or the skills group combined with one or two other modes of treatment.​
​
CLIENTS SEEKING DBT INFORMED TREATMENT ARE ASKED TO BOOK A CONSULTATION OR AN ASSESSMENT & ORIENTATION APPOINTMENT TO SEE IF THIS PATH ALIGNS WITH THEIR TREATMENT NEEDS AND GOALS.
​
SEE OUR RATES PAGE FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND APPOINTMENT OPTIONS