Informed DBT
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is an evidence based psychotherapy—it’s been proven to work through more than thirty years of research. The approach builds on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), another evidence based approach that has seventy years of research behind it. The core philosophy that underlies DBT is the balance between acceptance (mindfulness) and change (CBT) strategies. Research has shown that without the acceptance strategies of DBT, the change based strategies of CBT are less effective.
Unlike traditional psychotherapy DBT is a skills based program which means that treatment is not intended to be ongoing over the long term—the goal of DBT is to provide patients with the skills to thrive through a time-limited program of individual and group therapy.
What Is Included In Informed DBT?
Many of our clients have heard of DBT, and may have even been told that they need DBT by another care provider. Depending on your goals, your therapist at Guidepost DBT may recommend Comprehensive DBT or Informed DBT. One thing is for certain, no matter what level of care you’re searching for, everyone can benefit from DBT skills because they are life skills!
Informed DBT simple means that you and your individual therapist will work together to identify which aspects of DBT will help you achieve your life worth living goals. With a fully customized treatment plan, you may learn some or all of the DBT skills across four modules: Distress Tolerance, Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. You might meet with an individual therapist with Guidepost DBT, or you might only participate in our Skills Groups while continuing to work with an outside provider.
During your intake process with us, we’ll help you navigate the difference between Comprehensive and Informed DBT so that you can move forward with the confidence that you’ll be getting the support you need.
Skills Based
DBT is based on four skill modules including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.
Cumulative Curriculum
Skills build on each other over the course of the treatment. Treatment starts with easy to learn skills and gets progressively more challenging.
Research Supported
With hundreds of favorable research studies completed DBT has been recognized as an evidence-based program by the American Psychiatric Association.
Time Boxed
DBT treatment typically follows a one year program of weekly meetings though some patients may complete the process more quickly.
Dialectic Foundation
DBT incorporates both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness thereby offering a balance of acceptance and change strategies.
Goal Oriented
Clients work collaboratively with the therapist to define target behaviors for modification. Skills are then applied to decrease negative behaviors and promote positive ones.
Team Supported
Patients are supported not only by their individual therapist but also by their individual therapist’s consult team thus ensuring the highest-level of care.
Extended Support
In DBT practice therapy sessions are supplemented with skills-based coaching during extended hours by telephone.
Why Work With A DBT Center?
One of the most common questions our clients have is why should they consider working with Guidepost DBT as a center versus seeking out an individual practitioner. In this video, Dr. Alicia Smart, Linehan-Board Certified Clinician™️ and Clinical Director of Guidepost DBT, explains why a center is best positioned to offer you the highest quality care with our outcomes-oriented and evidence-based approach to treatment.