Thursdays | 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Status: Enrollment currently closed (maximum capacity reached)
To participate, a clinician must first complete an assessment of your child’s overall mental health before the class begins. ASOH will then establish a mental health baseline during the second individual session and create a treatment plan that includes the class.
A Structured, Skills-Based Path Toward Emotional Balance and Resilience
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment designed to help individuals manage intense emotions, reduce harmful behaviors, and build a more meaningful life. Unlike traditional “talk therapy,” DBT focuses on practical skill development and accountability to help participants apply what they learn in real-world situations.
Who Can Benefit From DBT?
DBT is a well-researched, evidence-based treatment shown to be effective in managing a wide range of mental health conditions, including:
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Suicidal Behavior & Self-Harm
- Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
- PTSD
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Binge Eating / Bulimia
Group Details:
Groups typically include 8–10 participants with two facilitators and last about ninety minutes. It usually takes one year to complete one full round of skills training, and new participants may join during open enrollment periods offered every 12 weeks. Modules rotate with each enrollment, and mindfulness skills are practiced in every session.
While participating in skills group, clients are expected to complete weekly homework assignments to help generalize the skills outside of sessions and review their progress with the group the following week.
One full year of group and individual therapy is highly recommended to complete the full DBT cycle.
DBT Modules Taught:
This treatment model focuses on helping clients strengthen their ability to apply DBT skills in daily life while being supported and held accountable for regular practice. Skills are taught across four modules:
- Core Mindfulness – Being present with awareness, without judgment.
- Distress Tolerance – Managing crises without worsening them.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness – Communicating clearly and maintaining self-respect in relationships.
- Emotion Regulation – Reducing emotional vulnerability and increasing positive emotions.
Individual Therapy:
In individual DBT sessions, the therapist works with clients using a structured hierarchy of target behaviors: life-threatening behaviors, therapy-interfering behaviors, and severe quality-of-life interfering behaviors. These are monitored weekly through a Diary Card, which helps identify the most urgent behavior to address.
Therapists use a behavioral chain analysis (breaking down the sequence of events leading to the behavior) to uncover the factors that maintain it. From there, task analysis is used to identify specific DBT skills and guide clients from their current challenges toward healthier, more effective behaviors.
Additional DBT Support:
- Phone Consultation: Brief 10–15 minute coaching calls for skill application during crises.
- Team Consultation: Weekly 1-hour clinician team meetings ensure quality and accountability.