Psychiatric Dialectical Behavior Outpatient Therapy
Providence Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) specialty program offers an effective, evidence-based approach to helping people better manage intense emotions, improve interpersonal relationships, and “build a life worth living”. Central to the DBT approach is balancing acceptance and change, which involves embracing the present moment while striving for personal growth and transformation. DBT combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices and teaches important life skills in three 10-week group modules:
- Distress Tolerance
- Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Emotion Regulation
People struggling with regulating their emotions often find it difficult to responding to emotions in a healthy way, and at times react with destructive behavior strategies such as self-harm, suicide attempts, and substance use when attempting to survive or cope with intense feelings and internal experiences.
DBT teaches skills to reduce emotional distress and harmful behavior, and to increase healthy coping strategies.
DBT consists of a two hour Skills Training group once per week, and an individual session with one of our DBT therapists once per week.
The specific skills taught are in Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, Mindfulness, and Interpersonal Effectiveness.
DBT is presented in 3 modules of 8 weeks each for a total of 24 weeks of group. Individual sessions begin 2-4 weeks before the group, for a total of 26-28 weeks of individual sessions.
Participants are expected to:
- Track their “target behavior” (what they want to change)
- Log their use of skills daily on a diary card
- Participate actively in treatment by completing homework and practicing skills, as well as being willing to examine problem behavior
- Not see another therapist while in DBT
- At Providence St. Vincent Medical Center (in the Sunset Business Park), we have groups on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays from 4-6, and Wednesdays from 12-2.
- At Providence Portland Medical Center (in Building B), we have groups Monday 1 to 3, Tuesdays 2 to 4, Wednesdays 10 to noon, and Thursdays 5:30 to 7:30
- You can pick which time/day works best for you and will stay in that group for the length of treatment.
- You will see one of our DBT therapists on a different day than group.
- You can expect to be on a waitlist for anywhere from 1 week to several months, depending on which group you would prefer to attend and how long our waitlist is.
- If you are in another Providence treatment program, talk to your therapist about making the referral.
- Once you are on the waitlist we will call you when we have an opening, so be sure to remember to check your voicemail.
- If you want to check with us about your position on the waitlist, please call the appropriate location and ask to speak with a DBT therapist.
- If you are not coming from a Providence treatment program and are referring yourself, please call the DBT program that you want to attend and ask to be referred to the DBT program.
The following handouts are intended to be used by current patients participating in the Providence St. Vincent DBT therapy program and are for informational purposes only. These handouts should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care or advice.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health provider with any questions you may regarding a medical and/or mental health condition. Never disregard seeking professional advice or delay seeking it because of anything you have seen on this website. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency or crisis, please contact emergency services or 988 immediately.
- Orientation
- Mindfulness
- Distress Tolerance
- Emotion Regulation
- Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Diary Card
- House of Treatment Worksheet
- Window of Tolerance Infographic
- From Chaos to Freedom - Crisis Survival Skills (Part 2)
- From Chaos to Freedom - From Suffering to Freedom
- From Chaos to Freedom - This One Moment
- Opposite Action - Changing Emotions You Want to Change
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