Frequently Asked Question

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that helps clients regulate intense emotions so that they can manage or curb negative feelings, increase positive experiences and live in the moment. It is designed to be a structured relatively short-term treatment. See here for the core elements and functions of DBT.

While DBT originated as a treatment for chronically suicidal individuals, it has evolved as a useful therapy for anyone who wants to have a different relationship with their emotional experience. The range of issues that DBT is designed to address include anything from loneliness to self-harming behavior.

The Emotion Fitness Program is an a-la-carte treatment plan curated by Counseling Center Group™ for clients who do not need a full DBT program but would benefit from learning specific skills and/or aspects of DBT. EFP borrows skills and practices from various schools of thought in psychology as well as spiritual philosophies. See the five core domains that EFP is designed to develop.

Our therapists, all of whom are extensively trained in DBT and EFP, can recommend the best treatment plan for you. Please schedule a consultation to get started.

DBT has been proven effective in controlled studies only when each of the following four components are part of the treatment plan: individual therapy sessions, a weekly skills training group, 24/7 access to phone coaching from your therapist, and your therapist’s guaranteed participation in a DBT consultation team. Otherwise, the treatment does NOT comply with the DBT model developed by renowned psychologist Marsha Linehan. Some DBT skills can be applied to other forms of therapy, but those are not considered comprehensive DBT therapy.

Make sure that the therapist is certified by the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification (as our founder Marjorie Kreppel has) or trained by an organization that is endorsed by the Linehan Institute (as all our therapists have.)

The relationship between the therapist and the client is considered one of equals, wherein both parties are doing their best and interacting in good faith to achieve a client’s goals.

All therapists practicing DBT are required to participate in weekly team meetings with other DBT therapists. The approach ensures that no therapist works in isolation, but rather collaborates with other therapists so that everyone involved can improve their skills and act as a community to support the patients they serve.

Like their clients, DBT therapists also need support, which is why they’re required to participate in weekly team meetings with other DBT therapists. These teams are often referred to as “therapy for therapists.” The approach ensures that no therapist works in isolation.