Eastside DBT NYC

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is effective in treating a wide range of DSM-5 disorders.

DBT is a specialized type of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).

DBT was originally developed by Marsha Linehan, PhD, to treat chronically suicidal individuals diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). It is now recognized as the gold standard psychological treatment for this population. However, research has proven that it is effective in treating a wide range of other disorders such as substance dependence, depression, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders.

The goal of DBT is to help individuals build a life that they feel is worth living. In DBT, the client and the therapist work together to set goals . It is the collaboration that helps treatment to be meaningful. Usually, this means they work on ways to decrease maladaptive behaviors and replace them with effective, life-enhancing behaviors. DBT has five components that work together to make up a standard DBT program.

Comprehensive DBT offers several modalities of treatment including individual psychotherapy, between session skills phone coaching, DBT skills training, case management, team consultation. This is different than many other psychotherapies that consist of just one mode of treatment (such as individual therapy). Each component or mode of treatment is intended to meet a specific function. Functions or objectives of DBT are to enhance the clients capabilities, increase motivation, ensure they generalize the skills through skills coaching and assure therapist are consulting other DBT therapist to support the treatment goals and adherence to the treatment model.