DBT For Young Adults
What is DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a treatment developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan. Originally, DBT was created to help people who were suicidal and struggling with self-harm urges. DBT is especially helpful for individuals who have difficulty regulating or dealing with their emotions. Focused on validating the difficulties of life’s struggles, the apparent difficulty with conflicting and intense emotions, and the desire to make important changes, DBT is a highly practical and direct form of therapy. Rather than only focusing on overcoming misery, DBT also emphasizes working on creating a life you want to live. After years of research, DBT is considered to be an empirically supported treatment for individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and is also being used to treat individuals who struggle with emotions but who do not meet criteria for BPD. Recently, DBT has been modified to treat individuals who struggle with a range of psychological problems including substance abuse and eating disorders.
DBT integrates cognitive behavior therapy with teachings in mindfulness and acceptance. Generally, DBT treatment entails both participation in a weekly 1.5 hour skills training group and weekly individual DBT therapy. Skills training teaches specific lessons in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness in order to help you learn to be fully in the moment, effectively manage emotions, cope with crises without making them worse, and meet your objectives in relationships. Many people who feel stuck in therapy or have pursued many treatments with minimal benefits find DBT to be remarkably helpful. DBT clinicians are committed to being available to you and pursuing ongoing consultation to provide you with a high level of care.
Young Adult DBT Skills Group (Ages 18-30)
The DBT skills training group takes approximately 4 months to complete. In some cases, clients elect to stay in group longer to increase their mastery of skill use. New group members enter into the group at the beginning of each new module, which is typically every 4-5 weeks. Modules include the following skill topics:
- Mindfulness – A “core” DBT skill, mindfulness involves paying attention, in the moment, non- judgmentally to live your life in a deliberate manner.
- Emotion Regulation – Learn the function of emotions and improve your ability to describe, change, and cope effectively, rather than let emotions control you.
- Distress Tolerance – Manage crises without making your problems worse.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness – Attend to your needs and improve relationships.
Quick Info
To join our DBT skills group, you must:
- Be a New York State resident
- Be currently working, in school, or volunteering
- Have your own individual therapist (minimum once weekly) – we can provide one if needed
- Complete a 45-minute intake consultation to assess clinical appropriateness
- Commit to attending sessions for the duration of one complete module
FAQs
Can I start mid-cycle or do I need to wait for a new module? You can join at the beginning of any module during the 2-week mindfulness introduction period. This ensures you get the foundational skills before moving into module-specific content.
What if I’ve never done DBT before? No prior DBT experience is required. Our program is designed for beginners and includes thorough skill introduction and practice.
What happens if I miss sessions? You’re financially responsible for all sessions in your enrolled module regardless of attendance. We’ll provide handouts for missed sessions to help you stay current.
How long do I need to stay in the group? You’re committed to one complete module (8-11 weeks). Many people choose to complete all three modules twice for optimal skill mastery, which takes approximately one year.