Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a structured program to teach skills to persons who have ongoing problems with emotions, relationships, abandonment and impulsivity. Dialectical Behavior Therapy has been proven to be very effective for changing behaviors associated with the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. However, this group is not limited to persons with Border-line Personality Disorder, but is open to anyone who wants to learn more effective coping skills. This group is open to adult men and women.

Specific Goals
Individuals will learn:

• To regulate emotional reactions
• To decrease para-suicidal behaviors
• To tolerate distress in life
• To develop interpersonal effectiveness
• To improve relationship skills

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Format
Each unit consists of a weekly meeting for about ten to twelve weeks with new members added at the beginning of each skill unit. Members will be expected to sign a contract agreeing to attend group, complete homework, and work on skills. The Dialectical Behavior group is a therapy with a strong focus on skill development. Some members may chose to participate in both this and individual therapy. A full Dialectical Behavior Therapy course takes approximately one year to complete.