Here is a link to help you understand what DBT really is.
How to tell if someone is providing DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) consists of five components:
1. Weekly Individual therapy with a DBT-trained clinician - including use of weekly diary cards
2. Weekly DBT skills training – usually conducted in a group, but on occasion done on an individual basis.
3. 24-hour Coaching as needed to help the client use skills in daily life.
4. Clinician consultation group. DBT requires that the therapist participate in a consultation group with other DBT trained therapists.
5. Parent Coaching
Without all of the above components, it's not DBT. It is worth asking specific questions to any providers that the referral has given to you to make sure that they are actually doing DBT.
- Do you do DBT?
- Do you provide both the individual component of DBT and the skills component?
- If so, are they taught at the same time or at separate times?
- Do you belong to a consultation team with other DBT trained therapists?
- Do you use a daily diary card?
If you find that the therapists whose names you have been given by your referral are not DBT therapists, you can go back to your referral and let them know they do not in fact have DBT providers. If they do give you names of any therapist who appears to meet all the DBT criteria above, please let us know so we can meet and refer to them.
Click on the link below for more information on the DBT certification process for therapists.
