Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy in NYC (DBT)
Psychologist Marsha Linehan developed Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), a highly specialized form of CBT, to help address problems in regulating emotions, impulse control, assertiveness, and relationship conflicts. It balances the use-of-change techniques from CBT with acceptance strategies from Zen practice.
Dr. Napolitano designed our DBT program specifically for high-functioning people who are maintaining full-time work or school schedules, or transitioning towards that structure. Dr. Napolitano understands that high-functioning people still have difficulties with emotion regulation and can benefit from DBT.
In our DBT program, clients learn cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness skills to better identify and manage their emotions, including anxiety and depression. They then practice applying those skills to better tolerate life events and improve their ability to interact effectively with others.
DBT is a multi-component treatment consisting of the following elements:
- Once weekly individual therapy, either with a CBT/DBT staff psychologist or with an outside therapist
- Once weekly DBT skills training groups
- Phone coaching with the individual therapist to reinforce skills
Although DBT was originally designed to treat chronically suicidal and self-injurious behavior, it has since been adapted to treat a variety of other problems including binge eating disorder and depression.
Clients have the option of doing Comprehensive DBT with us or group only. Group-only DBT clients are required to have an outside therapist. Individual DBT without group is not offered.
View our schedule and descriptions of DBT Skills Training Groups here.
Individual DBT
Individual therapists work collaboratively with clients to change problematic behaviors and cultivate self-acceptance. The individual therapist will provide phone coaching on the use of DBT skills.
To request an initial consultation, please complete the form below or call 6466635246.
DBT Skills Training Groups
DBT Skills Training groups are conducted on an ongoing basis and led by our staff psychologists who have completed intensive training in DBT. Meeting once a week, participants learn the 5 essential skills training modules: mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and walking the middle path.
Individuals who have an outside therapist and are interested in joining a DBT Skills Training Group only should contact us at 6466635246.
Learn more about our DBT Skills Training Groups here.
More Intensive Treatment
For individuals requiring more intensive and structured treatment than our program provides, we recommend the following residential treatment programs outside of NYC.
Silver Hill Hospital | 208 Valley Road, New Canaan, CT 06840 | (866) 542-4455
Gunderson Residence | 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478 | (877) 451-6466