Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
DBT Therapy in Maryland
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a form of psychotherapy often used to treat individuals who have difficulty regulating emotions, maintaining relationships and tolerating distress. It is based on cognitive behavioral therapy. DBT combines evidence-based strategies from a number of supportive psychotherapies. Gladstone offers comprehensive DBT therapy in Maryland. DBT is commonly used to treat individuals with:
- borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- substance use disorder
- eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia
- depression
- anxiety
New patients: start by submitting your completed application to dbt@gladstonepsych.com. See more information below under “how to apply.”
How does dialectical behavioral therapy work?
A key component of DBT is skills training. Patients learn healthy coping mechanisms, so they can persevere in distressing situations. Our providers offer a clear action plan for patients to build, practice and master important skills, including:
- mindfulness
- distress tolerance
- emotional regulation
- interpersonal effectiveness
The skills training component of DBT provides patients the structure to learn, refine, and master such practices. Above all, patients gain the tools they need to develop a strong sense of self while strengthening personal relationships.
What’s involved in comprehensive DBT?
Individual Therapy Sessions
During weekly sessions, individuals spend an hour with their therapist learning to recognize problematic behaviors and devise more productive coping mechanisms. Using a daily diary card, patients can reflect on past challenges and track their progress throughout the DBT program.
DBT Skills Group
Phone Coaching
The phone coaching component helps individuals choose healthy behaviors when confronted with distressing situations. Individuals contact their provider by text or phone for guidance on how to act skillfully and avoid unwanted behaviors. With the support of their provider, patients apply the skills they’ve learned in real life situations.
DBT Team Consultation
Is DBT right for you?
Do you struggle with any of the following issues?
- Relationship conflicts
- Intense emotional expression
- Rapid mood swings
- Difficulty relaxing
- Addiction
- Anger management
- Binge eating
- Overspending
- Self-harm
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Avoiding responsibilities, people, or events
- Numbing in response to fear, anger and pain
- Low tolerance for stress
- Suicidality
- History of psychiatric hospitalizations
Whether you would like to increase your ability to manage emotions, develop relationships, or respond in a crisis, working with a DBT therapist to integrate the skills into every area of your life can be life-changing.
DBT for Adolescents
DBT-A, or DBT for Adolescents, is an adaptation of Dialectical Behavior Therapy as originally developed by Marsha Linehan.
Like traditional comprehensive DBT, adolescents in DBT-A participate in a once weekly individual therapy session with a DBT therapist and have access to phone coaching between sessions.
Family involvement is critical to positive outcomes for adolescent clients. Therefore, the following modifications are included in DBT-A:
- The adolescent client and at least one parent attend a Multifamily Skills Group weekly for 24 weeks (6 months)
- Family therapy is offered on an as-needed basis to promote improved communication within the family system and encourage skills use on the part of the adolescent client and their parents
- Parent coaching is offered with your teen’s primary individual therapist, or if clinically indicated, with a separate therapist
What’s special about DBT at Gladstone?
DBT is a multifaceted approach to emotional regulation. Individuals don’t just build their personal skills but also gain a reliable support system. Individual and group therapy sessions help patients learn and apply their skills with the support of both mental health professionals and an empathetic community.
Our mission
DBT-Linehan Board of Certification™
The DBT Program at Gladstone is approved as a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Program™
This means that our program has been independently evaluated by the Linehan Board of Certification and found to have a high level of fidelity to the DBT model as prescribed by the creator of DBT, Marsha Linehan.
Why look for a certified DBT program? Click to learn more about DBT-Linehan Board of Certification™
Program Directors Christina White, LCPC and Rebecca Blake, LCSW-C are DBT-Linehan Board Certified Clinicians™
Many of our clinicians are currently in the process of individual certification through the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification™
Training
Our clinicians have received foundational DBT training through Behavioral Tech or one of their associated trainers
Our clinicians have received training in DBT Prolonged Exposure, a protocol developed by Melanie Harned, Ph.D, ABPP for the treatment of PTSD and trauma-related symptoms
How to Apply
Now accepting adolescents ages 11-17 years old and adults 18-64 years old with most Blue Cross Blue Shield/Carefirst plans.
For additional information or to apply for the DBT program, please contact DBT Manager/Coordinator Krista Mitchell at dbt@gladstonepsych.com or 443-247-3621.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About DBT at Gladstone
Q: Do you accept insurance for DBT?
A: Yes, the DBT Program at Gladstone Psychiatry and Wellness is in network with most commercial CareFirst/BCBS plans.
Q: Do you accept any other insurances for DBT?
A: No, we are currently out of network with all other insurance plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, and out-of-state insurances. We are continually advocating with commercial insurances to gain access to in-network benefits for DBT.
Q: What if I have another type of insurance? Do you accept single case agreements for DBT?
A: We are working on it! At this time we are unable to accept any individuals with other types of insurance.
Q: Can I use my out-of-network benefits for DBT?
A: No, unfortunately we cannot bill out of network for DBT at this time.
Q: Does DBT have a self-pay rate for services?
A: No, at this time the DBT program does not accept self-pay for services.
Q: Do I have to be a current client at Gladstone to do DBT at Gladstone?
A: No, the DBT Program is open to anyone.
Q: Do I need to be a Maryland resident to do DBT at Gladstone?
A: No, but you do need to be in the state of Maryland at the time of your individual and group sessions. Our therapists are licensed as social workers and counselors in the state of Maryland and state boards require us to practice only where we are licensed. Some of our therapists hold out-of-state licenses for special circumstances.
Q: Is this program virtual or in-person?
A: We are happy to offer the option for individual sessions in-person at most of our Gladstone offices: Hunt Valley, Bethesda, Columbia, and our newest office in Frederick. We are also committed to continuing to offer virtual individual sessions for those who prefer it. Currently, skills training groups for adults remain fully virtual, while skills training groups for adolescents and their families are offered virtually and in-person at our Hunt Valley location.
Q: What is the process for getting started?
A: The first step is to send your completed application to dbt@gladstonepsych.com. Your application will be added to our waitlist. Once a therapist has an opening that matches your scheduling availability and therapist preferences, the therapist will contact you by phone for a brief 15 minute phone consultation. At that time, an intake appointment may be scheduled.
Q: How long is the waitlist?
A: We wish we could give an exact timeline, however, the length of time on the waitlist is completely variable. If you want care sooner, please make sure to list your open availability on your application.
Q: Do I really need to do the full program, or can I just do DBT individual therapy?
A: The DBT Program at Gladstone prides itself on providing full fidelity DBT according to the model created by the developer of DBT, Marsha Linehan. Multiple randomized, controlled trials (RCT’s) have proven the efficacy of this model, and it’s important to us to follow the research.
Q: What if I’m not sure that DBT is right for me?
A: DBT offers a pretreatment phase of 4-6 sessions where you will learn more about DBT and our program, and your therapist will gather information about you and assess your fit for DBT. There is no obligation to continue with treatment if you determine it’s not a good fit. If you are unsure, we encourage you to proceed with an intake to learn more.
Q: What does it mean to have your program certified through DBT-LBC?
A: This designation was awarded to us after a rigorous examination by the Linehan Board of Certification, which involved a comprehensive review of our program documents, interviews with therapists and clients, and more. We are only one of two programs certified in the state of Maryland.
Q: What should I look for in a DBT therapist?
A: Many therapists and programs claim to offer DBT therapy. They may have taken a course and learned some DBT terms. Searching for a therapist and/or DBT program through the DBT-LBC website will provide a list of high-quality DBT therapists and programs.
Q: How long does the DBT program take?
A: The short answer: one year for adults and six months for adolescents. Multiple randomized, controlled trials (RCT’s) have shown the efficacy of these treatment lengths.
Q: What is involved is comprehensive DBT? How many hours per week?
A: Comprehensive DBT involves a commitment of a minimum of three hours per week, one hour of individual therapy and two hours of group skills training.
Q: How is DBT different than CBT?
A: DBT is related to CBT, and it’s different in important ways in the areas of format, process, and structure. In terms of format, CBT usually involves a once weekly or twice monthly individual session, whereas DBT involves weekly individual therapy, group skills training, and as needed phone coaching. In terms of processes, CBT focuses on changing problematic thoughts whereas DBT focuses on teaching skills. In terms of structure, CBT sessions are often open-ended and fully led by the client. DBT individual sessions are structured using a target hierarchy which determines what is discussed in the session and in what order.
Q: I (or my child) has been in therapy for years. How will this be different?
A: We hear this question all the time, and we know if you or your family has been struggling it’s difficult to put your faith into yet another promising therapy/therapist. We are passionate about doing DBT because we see people get better all the time, even after they have tried multiple other treatments and medications.
Q: What percentage of people get better using DBT?
A: We are excited to share that data gathered on DBT treatment at Gladstone shows remarkable results!
– Our data shows our clients had a 98% reduction in psychiatric hospitalizations (per data collected in 2023 for the previous year).
– Our data also shows a substantial reduction in emotional dysregulation: using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation (DERS) scale, a self-report measure assessing emotion dysregulation, upon admission to the program the average DERS score was 111.3, the average DERS score at termination was 86.27, a reduction of 25.03 points. The DERS does not give cut off scores; however, research has shown that a score of 111.3 is closely correlated with severe mental health symptoms and placements in higher levels or care. A score of 86.27 is correlated with mild symptoms and mental health needs that can be met within the community.