Tools To Help You Choose a "True" Certified DBT Clinician
Are You Receiving Truly Adherent DBT?
It’s Your Right to Know!
TO BRING CLARITY TO YOUR THERAPY PATH, DBT is a COMPLETE INTENSIVE PROGRAM and properly trained DBT therapists are in overall alignment with the developer, Marsha Linehan, Ph.D.
The answer to the questions below are to be “YES” if the therapist is stating they are offering a DBT specialization.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT to ask these questions and to ask to see related Behavioral Tech Certificates to find out if you are getting a properly trained DBT therapist.
It’s important to not assume you are getting the COMPREHENSIVE 4-PART DBT PROGRAM or a truly intensively trained DBT therapist solely because the name DBT is emphasized.
It is YOUR RIGHT TO GET INFORMED so you can pursue a true DBT program aligning with Marsha Linehan’s research, REFLECTING the STRONGEST EVIDENCED-BASED OUTCOMES for YOUR SPECIALIZED MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
When DBT of Charleston is unable to accept new clients, Director Sarah Greenwood confidently gives her sole two DBT referrals to Scott Fairweather of Carolina Behavioral Therapy -and- another source who has expanded to this area from FL. in Spring 2024; contact here for help with referrals for leads on best outcomes for your needs.
How to Know if a Therapist Offers Truly Adherent DBT:
Ask These Questions
- Was your DBT training through DBT-Linehan Board of Certification Institute after initiating your foundational training path at Behavioral Tech (or another Linehan-Board approved training center(aL-Batc))?
- Have you completed a 10-day Intensive Training or did you go to a 5-day Fundamental and finish the post check list requirements (including exam) through Behavioral Tech /(aL-Batc)/preceded by your DBT-Linehan Board of Certification’s Institute training pursuits?
- Are you currently a member of a DBT consultation team that focuses on a “therapy for the therapist” approach in order to benefit the well-being of client cases?
- Does your consultation team of intensively trained DBT therapists consist of therapists who are approved by DBT-Linehan Board of Certification/(or Behavioral Tech/(aL-Batc) for starting clinicians) and/or led by a clinician like Sarah Greenwood with DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™ holding full credentialing?
- Have you been supervised weekly for an extended period by a renown expert DBT trainer-therapist approved by DBT-Linehan Board of Certification Institute?
- Are you regularly continuing your DBT training and education through DBT-Linehan Institute|(or Behavioral Tech/(aL-Batc) for starting clinicians)?
- Have you furthered your education by engaging in a DBT-Linehan Board (or Behavioral Tech/(aL-Batc) for early starting clinicians) requirements or trainings within the past 18 months?
- Are you scheduling another DBT-Linehan Board Institute (or Behavioral Tech/(aL-Batc)) DBT training/L-Board requirement within the next 18 months?
- Do you teach DBT skills classes weekly as taught through your L-Board/Behavioral/(aL-Batc) Tech training?
- Do you do DBT protocol phone coaching as taught through your L-Board/Behavioral Tech/(aL-Batc) training?
- Do you use Linehan’s Diary Cards as taught through your L-Board/Behavioral Tech/(aL-Batc) training?
- Have you applied/is your application approved by L-Board and are you meeting the requirements of DBT-Linehan Institute’s certification of 7 to 10 years training(after meeting foundational basic pre-requisites with Behavioral Tech/(aL-Batc))? And are you able to provide proper evidence of your training?
- Application for the Linehan Institute’s official certification is a lengthy process. Clinicians who apply are required to show all of their DBT training accomplishments and then must be approved to take & pass the official Linehan Board-level certification exam.
- Ask your prospective DBT therapist if they’ve either begun or passed their L-board required case conceptualizations and supervised session videos required for OFFICIAL ADVANCED TOP CERTIFICATION OF DBT EXCELLENCE (according to the new certification requirements as of 2016).
At DBT of Charleston, Director Sarah Greenwood is a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™ meeting all of the above training and requirements. Learn more about Sarah’s specialized training and credentials.
Why Answering “YES” to All the Above Questions is So Important
DBT is a clinically evidence-based effective treatment for BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) as well as other severe emotion dys-regulation diagnoses. Research is published frequently by Marsha Linehan, the writer of this program, and DBT therapists have a responsibility to their clients to stay informed by continuing education/training.
Many people especially with Persistent Emotion Dys-regulation Disorders and/or C-PTSD (Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) have difficulty in trusting therapy, have “failed in treatment” or have been dropped by former therapists and have frequently exhausted endless therapy approaches with little success.
When people come to DBT, they often have heard it is the unique therapy program that has worked for people with their complex struggles.
When DBT is not done as designed, the results may not be the same, causing the (often high-risk) person to lose hope and trust and then to be reluctant to try DBT again. Therefore, it is critical to be sure that your DBT therapist is truly qualified to practice DBT, -AND- is offering the FULL 4-PART PROGRAM ADHERENTLY! THAT IS TRUE DBT.
For more information on BPD, please refer to TARA (Treatment & Research Advancements, National Association for Personality Disorders, 23 Greene Street, New York, NY 10011.
Seeking a Referral? A Note on Effective DBT Referrals
We do generally know who does offer full DBT with fidelity and proper training since DBT therapists in communities are highly team-oriented. (See How to Know if a Therapist Offers Truly Adherent DBT)
Further, refer to What You Need To Know About DBT Referrals for pertinent educational information to effectively ADVOCATE for YOURSELF with WISE CHOICES in YOUR THERAPEUTIC JOURNEY.