DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY (DBT)

Program Information

What is DBT?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, is an intensive outpatient therapy for people who are struggling to manage their emotions, stress, relationships, and impulsive behaviors (i.e.: self-injury, suicide, drug/alcohol use, eating disorders). DBT is a combination of cognitive-behavior therapy and mindfulness practice, and has shown to be effective in helping adolescents and adults with these difficulties (See admission criteria sheet).

 “The main goal of DBT is to help you build a life worth living.”

DBT therapists take a compassionate view toward people, accepting you for who you are, and also helping you change and work toward your goals.  Our program serves youth age 13 to 25.

Who we are:

We are a group of intensively trained independent DBT practitioners.  We provide a fidelity based program as created by Marsha Linehan at the University of Washington. The DBT team includes the following local mental health professionals:  Riannon Bardsley, BA; Karen Jackson, MA LMFT; Mark Lazich MS LMHC; Toni Lynons, MA LICSW; Mathew Meyer, MA; Elizabeth Morgan, MA; Elizabeth Snyder, MS LMHC; Chris Wolf, MA LMFT. 

Our DBT program in a nutshell:

20-week intensive program includes:

- Individual therapy weekly

- Skills Class weekly for client (and parent/guardian if youth is still living at home)

- Family counseling sessions when needed

- Phone coaching with your therapist between sessions 

DBT teaches you how to:

- understand and manage your emotions (Emotion Regulation)

- handle stress without making impulsive or destructive choices (Distress Tolerance)

- get what you need from other people, while keeping your relationships and your self-respect (Interpersonal Effectiveness)

- focus your mind and center yourself (Mindfulness)

- balance your thinking and understand other perspectives (Walking the Middle Path)

- apply all these skills in your real life 

Payment:

The cost for the program is on a sliding fee scale based on income.  We accept insurance for some or all of the program services depending on benefits and practitioner availability.    We will assist you with identifying payment options. 

For further information contact: