Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) provides clients with new skills to manage painful emotions and decrease conflict in relationships. DBT specifically focuses on providing therapeutic skills in four key areas. First, mindfulness focuses on improving an individual's ability to accept and be present in the current moment. Second, distress tolerance is geared toward increasing a person’s tolerance of negative emotion, rather than trying to escape from it. Third, emotion regulation covers strategies to manage and change intense emotions that are causing problems in a person’s life. Fourth, interpersonal effectiveness consists of techniques that allow a person to communicate with others in a way that is assertive, maintains self-respect, and strengthens relationships.
DBT was originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder. However, research shows that DBT has also been used successfully to treat people experiencing depression, bulimia, binge-eating, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic-stress disorder, and substance abuse. DBT skills are thought to have the capability of helping those who wish to improve their ability to regulate emotions, tolerate distress and negative emotion, be mindful and present in the given moment, and communicate and interact effectively with others
DBT treatment consists of individual therapy sessions and DBT skills groups. Individual therapy sessions consist of one-on-one contact with a trained therapist, ensuring that all therapeutic needs are being addressed. The individual therapist will help the patient apply the DBT skills within daily life, and address obstacles that might arise over the course of treatment.
DBT skills group participants learn and practice skills alongside others. Groups are led by a trained therapist teaching skills and leading exercises. The group members are then assigned homework, such as practicing mindfulness exercises. Each group session lasts approximately two hours, and groups typically meet weekly for six months. Groups can be shorter or longer, depending on the needs of the group members.
In addition to DBT, The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Center of Arizona also specializes in other forms of evidence-based treatments (EBT's) such as:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Prolonged Exposure (PE)
- Exposure Therapy
- Exposure with Response Prevention
- Habit Reversal etc.
Not at all. People who ask for help know when they need it and have the courage to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then. In our work together, we’ll help you explore and identify your strengths and how to implement them to reduce the influence of the problems you are facing.
The difference is between someone who can do something, and someone who has the training and experience to do that same thing professionally. A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, counseling is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing my business.” Lastly, if your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion, and you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.
Medication can be effective but it alone cannot solve all issues. Sometimes medication is needed in conjunction with counseling. Our work together is designed to explore and unpack the problems you are experiencing and expand on your strengths that can help you accomplish your personal goals.
Because each person has different issues and goals for counseling, it will be different depending on the individual. We tailor our therapeutic approach to your specific needs.
We are so glad you are dedicated to getting the most out of your sessions. Your active participation and dedication will be crucial to your success.
If it is necessary to cancel an appointment, you must cancel 24 hours before your scheduled appointment time. You will be charged the regular fee for the session if you have not notified our office of your cancellation 24 hours before the time of the appointment. All voicemails are dated and timestamped. If your appointment is scheduled for a Monday, please leave a voicemail over the weekend to confirm your cancellation
Unfortunately, at this time we do not offer a sliding scale or reduce fee schedule for our services. However, we do run a training program for PhD students that is directly supervised by our expert clinicians. We charge a reduced fee for these services. If you are interested, please contact our office at 480-566-2342 to find out more.
Our policy is payment in full at the time of service and requires a credit card to be placed on file prior to starting service with DBTAZ. Clients are responsible for all charges incurred, whether or not insurance provides coverage. We provide clients with a monthly billing statement for the services rendered and fees paid to submit to insurance companies for out-of-network reimbursement.
Clients at DBTAZ are responsible for submitting their own statements/paperwork to insurance for out-of-network reimbursement. DBTAZ will not bill insurance companies on behalf of clients for out-of-network claims.
DBTAZ' psychotherapists are not contracted with any insurance panels and are considered out-of-network providers. You may contact your insurance company to determine if they will reimburse you for services provided by DBTAZ through your out-of-network benefits. Many insurance plans do provide the opportunity to apply for reimbursement for therapy services received from out-of-network providers. Please call your insurance company prior to your first appointment and request further information regarding your out-of-network benefits.
I am seeking mental health treatment services at the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Center of Arizona. Does my plan have any out-of-network coverage for mental health services?
Is there an out-of-network deductible, and if so, what is it?
The billing CPT codes will be ________________. What is the maximum allowable for each of these codes? What percentage of this allowable will my plan pay for each of these codes?
How many mental health sessions does my plan cover per year?
We find that receiving treatment from two therapists at once can be very confusing, and in some instances, actually harmful. For this reason, our clients take a break from working with their former individual therapists while in DBT; we are happy to facilitate a return to that therapist once DBT has been completed. If it is another form of therapy such as CBT then most likely you can still see your other therapist as well. During your intake session this can be discussed with your provider.
Most research suggests that individuals with multiple, chronic problems related to emotion dysregulation typically benefit from one year of DBT. However, there is wide variability. You and your therapist will establish an estimated length of treatment in your first few sessions. You may successfully complete therapy before that date, or you may choose to stay beyond that date to work on additional targets, but typically we aim for one year.
Skills training group is a formal part of DBT for many of our clients. Skills group is designed to teach you new ways of responding, and is therefore considered a very important part of our treatment program. However, there are exceptions. For example, some of our clients only need training in one module, or have already learned many of the skills in another setting. Each client will have a treatment plan tailored specifically to his/her needs, so this question will be best answered by your own provider.
