Top Five Questions to Ask Therapists Before Starting DBT

1.  When does your consultation group meet?

Treatment adherent dialectical behavior therapy groups have specific criteria that a clinic or program must follow.  DBT clinics must have a consultation group for their therapists.  These meetings are designed to support the treatment team.


2.  How are you using coaching?


The integration of technology in counseling has added a new dimension for supporting skill generalization and connection with the treatment team.  Even though confidentiality can be compromised, clients and therapists who use text messages, phone coaching, and emails can guide the client to practice mindfulness skills to regulate, check the facts, reframe the situation, and see the dialectic. 


3.  How are you using assessment to track change over time?


Diary Cards are essential for tracking the change over time for emotions, target behaviors, and DBT skills.  For more information about customized diary cards for clients with specific diagnoses and target behaviors, please contact Sarah C. Turner (me) at scturner@uh.edu. 


I have developed the DBT Diary Card--Texas Edition that includes the emotions, areas for target behaviors, and updated skills from the DBT(R) Skills Training Manual, Second Edition (Marsha Linehan, 2014).


Be sure to ask about developing the life-worth-living-goal, diary cards, chain analyses for working through the problem and target behaviors, and the transition the conversation into solution analyses.


4.  What types of training in dialectical behavior therapy and professional development did you and the staff receive to become DBT therapists?


Different training programs have different approaches for training mental health professions, clinicians, researchers, and staff.  Some are more intensive than others.


5.  Do all clients who come for treatment for a broad range of symptoms and diagnoses receive DBT?


Treatment choice is complicated.  Individuals who are seeking DBT usually carry comorbidities, such as depression and borderline personality disorder.  When looking at evidence-based practice, dialectical behavior therapy is not as effective for certain disorders as other evidence-based treatments.