Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an empirically validated treatment that was developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan, and her team of therapists and researchers.

DBT is effective in treating individuals with emotional and behavioural dysregulation, self-harm and suicidal behaviour, disordered eating, substance use disorders, addictions, personality disorders (including BPD), PTSD, anger management, and impulse control problems.

DBT involves a combination of mindfulness, motivational, acceptance, cognitive, behavioural, and dialectical strategies.DBT aims to help clients to regulate their emotions, behaviour, and relationships so that they can build a better life for themselves based on their values and goals.

At Broadview, we work with clients long-term (e.g. at least 8 months) so that they can complete Stage I DBT and progress through Stage II or beyond.  Clients who complete Stage II treatment are less likely to relapse and more able to build a life based on their values and goals.

At Broadview Psychology, we offer separate DBT programs for children, young adolescents, older adolescents, young adults and adults as we believe that treatment should be adapted and relevant for different age groups and that clients should be with others within a similar age range.  

DBT is a multifaceted treatment and is most effective when it is provided comprehensively.  At Broadview, we emphasize a comprehensive approach offered by a team of clinicians. We provide the following DBT treatment components:  

• DBT individual therapy involves monitoring and analyzing emotions and behaviour, determining how to resist urges for unhealthy coping, strengthening healthy ways of responding, and building a life worth living.
• DBT phone or text coaching is an intervention that occurs outside of the sessions to help clients cope effectively in the moment with intense emotions, urges or stressors.  
• DBT group skills training involves helping clients learn to be more mindful, tolerate distress and manage crises, regulate their emotions, and become more interpersonally effective and more balanced in their thinking and living.
• DBT advanced group skills training provides support and continued development to clients who are in Stage II DBT.  
• DBT family/partner/caregiver group skills training provides education, skills and support to family members or partners of people who have emotional and behavioural regulation problems so that they can respond more effectively and support the recovery of their child or loved one.
• DBT family/couple therapy aims to improve how families understand one another, communicate, deal with stressors and resolve conflicts.  
• DBT nutritional counselling includes education, monitoring, and problem-solving to improve healthy eating.
• DBT behaviour coaching provides adjunctive sessions to practice using DBT skills and behavioural strategies to reduce depression, anxiety and avoidance behaviours, and work on therapy, educational and employment goals.
• DBT case management includes providing support and consultation to adolescents’ parents, medical providers, educators, group home workers etc. on an “as-needed basis.”
• DBT behaviour coaching involves individual & group sessions focused on helping clients with educational, vocational, and behaviour goals.
• DBT consultation team meetings occur weekly and are a forum in which clinicians consult with one another to improve their skills as clinicians and their effectiveness in treating clients.