Standard DBT Outpatient Services

About our Standard
DBT Outpatient Services

Our Approach

Since 1998, we have provided comprehensive DBT and other related services “by the book” – as it was originally developed and evaluated by DBT treatment developer, Marsha M. Linehan, PhD at the University of Washington. This includes individual therapy, DBT skills training, phone consultation for between-session coaching in really difficult situations, and (when needed) nutrition support and medication management services. Institute Director Linda Dimeff, PhD directs all clinical services at PDBTI. Dr. Dimeff is a former student of Dr. Linehan’s and remains a consultant and advisor for her research clinic at the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics (BRTC) at the University of Washington.

DBT is considered the most researched, best supported treatment for people with severe, complex, and emotion-based problems including suicidality, self-harm, and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Research over the past two decades, however, shows that DBT is not just for BPD. We now know that DBT is highly effective for eating disorders, substance use disorders, depression, and complex trauma. An underlying premise in DBT is that painful emotions drive clients to use ineffective “target behaviors” that make the situation worse in the long run.

We strive to provide the highest quality care to those we serve, in order to help all of our clients build a life worth living.

Below, we highlight information on the standard outpatient services available at PDBTI including:

Getting Started. The first step in getting started is to complete a brief Interest Form. This form can be completed by the person seeking our services or others providing assistance. If you prefer, you may also contact our Intake Team directly to get started, or to learn more about what we offer: referral@pdbti.org or (503) 290-3291.

Electronic Interest Form Printable Interest Form

Telehealth Delivered. Since the start of COVID, we have successfully converted all our treatment services, including our IOPs, to telehealth. All standard services and IOPs are currently offered via HIPAA-secure video conferencing.

Standard DBT Outpatient Services
for Adults (18+)

All standard comprehensive services include:

  • Weekly 50-minute individual therapy
  • Weekly two hour DBT skills training that includes: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness
  • Twenty-four hour phone coaching, available to clients through their individual therapist

As needed services include:

  • Medication management
  • Nutrition support

Our 12-month groups are in a psycho-educational format, which means it is more like a class rather than a therapy group where people come to vent or get support.

Electronic Interest Form Printable Interest Form

Speciality DBT Programs for Adults

DBT for Substance Misuse: Path to Clear Mind

PDBTI’s Path to Clear Mind program is for persons who misuse alcohol and/or drugs and wish to reduce their use. DBT Path to Clear Mind is an evidence-based treatment developed and evaluated by Marsha M. Linehan, PhD and Linda Dimeff, PhD at the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics (BRTC) at the University of Washington.

Path to Clear Mind treatment goals include:

  • Determining effective goals about using alcohol and/or drugs, whether it’s reduced-use or abstinence, according to one’s values
  • Increasing motivation to reduce/stop use with behavioral skills
  • Becoming more aware of urges to use and increasing confidence in one’s able to tolerate and reduce them
  • Identifying high-risk situations and other factors that increase risk of slips and relapse
  • Structuring the environment to support recovery goals
  • Reducing depression, anxiety, relationship, and other behavioral health problems that can commonly co-occur with alcohol and drug misuse
  • Building a life worth living without reliance on alcohol and drugs

Who Should Attend. Our Path to Clear Mind program is for those persons with complex and challenging mental health problems who struggle with co-occurring mental health and substance misuse. This may include people who have tried evidence-based cognitive-behavioral treatment and may need further, additional support

For More Information. For general information about the program, please contact Trevor Cole, PhD, Path to Clear Mind manager at tcole@pdbti.org or (503) 290-3286.

DBT for PTSD: Path to Freedom from the Past

Many people who seek our services suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PDBTI’s Path to Freedom from the Past program is tailored to provide comprehensive DBT while also treating PTSD. We offer DBT and Prolonged Exposure (PE; DBT-PE), following modifications by Dr. Melanie Harned, Marsha M. Linehan, PhD, and Edna Foa, PhD, PE treatment developer. We also provide Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), another powerful evidence-based treatment developed by Patty Resick, PhD. DBT believes that people with PTSD need to have behavioral skills under their belt before beginning PTSD treatment – ensuring they will be able to cope effectively while working through past traumatic events. In many cases, that means beginning with standard DBT before moving onto formally treating the PTSD.

Path to Freedom from the Past treatment goals include:

  • Establishing safety and stability by learning and practicing DBT skills to target behavioral, emotional, and cognitive dysregulation
  • Learning to use DBT skills to effectively manage PTSD symptoms
  • Treating PTSD through PE or CPT
  • Building a life worth living, without PTSD

Who Should Attend. Our Path to Freedom from the Past program is for those persons with debilitating PTSD who wish to recover from past traumatic events while building and maintaining a life worth living.

For More Information. For general information about the program, please contact Trevor Cole, PhD, Path to Freedom from the Past manager at tcole@pdbti.org or (503) 290-3286.

DBT for Eating Disorders: Path to Mindful Eating

Our Path to Mindful Eating (PME) program is designed to provide DBT-adherent treatment of eating disorders (ED) based on evidence-based modifications to standard DBT made at Stanford University by eating disorder experts Christy Telch, PhD, Debra Safer, MD, and Stuart Agras, MD, in collaboration with Marsha M. Linehan, PhD. Our primary goal is to guide individuals diagnosed with eating disorders through a process of recovery by attending to and changing behavioral, emotional, and cognitive patterns. In addition to DBT, our standard Path to Mindful Eating program also includes nutritional therapy.

Who Should Attend. Our Path to Mindful Eating program is for people with eating disordered behaviors including those with complex and severe behavioral health problems, a history of unhelpful or unsuccessful attempts with other ED treatments, and/or one or more of the following: Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, ED-Other Specific Feeding/Eating Disorders.

For More Information. For general information about the program, please contact Raquel Friedman, PsyD, Path to Mindful Eating manager at rfriedman@pdbti.org or (971) 236-2547.

Electronic Interest Form Printable Interest Form

Standard DBT Outpatient Services for Teens, Young Adults, and their Families

DBT for Teens and Families

Designed for teens and their families, this six-month evidence-based program draws from the early work of Alec Miller, PsyD, Jill Rathus, PhD, and Marsha M. Linehan, PhD. Its goal is to help teenagers increase their ability to cope with intense emotions, be more interpersonally effective in their interactions with family, friends, and teachers, and to assist families in their own practice of the skills required to help their teen. The program consists of:

  • Weekly individual therapy sessions for the adolescent
  • Weekly 90-minute adolescent skills training group
  • A weekly 90-minute parent and caregiver skills group (these meet at the same time as the teen groups and it is required that at least 1 parent/caregiver attend. Please see our Parent and Caregiver Group FAQ for more information.)
  • As-needed phone coaching for managing crisis outside of the therapy session
  • Monthly family check-ins to discuss treatment progress

Who Should Attend. The program is open to teens (ages 13-18) who struggle with severe and complex behavioral problems, including emotional dyscontrol, impulsive behaviors, self-harm and other suicidal behaviors. As family participation is mandatory, at least one primary caregiver must participate in treatment, alongside their youth.

For More Information. For general information about the program, please contact Ashley Maliken, PhD, Teen and Family Program Manager, at amaliken@pdbti.org or (503) 290-3277.

DBT for Young Adults

Our program designed for young adults (18 to 25 years old) recognizes an increased need for independence is sometimes accompanied by a lack of skills to effectively make the transition. This 12-month program includes:

  • Weekly individual therapy sessions
  • Weekly 90-minute skills training group
  • Young adult parent and caregiver group, which helps parents provide effective support while encouraging mutual use of skills.
  • As-needed phone coaching for managing crisis outside of the therapy session

While family participation is not mandatory, we recommend that family members who are willing to participate in their young adults treatment, attend Skills Training for Parents and Caregivers.

Electronic Interest Form Printable Interest Form