"Adherent" or full-model DBT follows a comprehensive treatment structure developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan. It typically includes weekly individual therapy, a weekly skills group, between-session phone coaching, and a therapist consultation team — all four components running together to support the client and the treatment team.
"DBT-informed" treatment uses DBT concepts and skills — such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation — without necessarily running the full four-part model. This might look like a skills group on its own, or a therapist weaving DBT skills into individual therapy sessions.
Our DBT Skills Group is a DBT-informed offering: it teaches the same core skills used in full-model DBT in a structured, 35-week format, without requiring the phone coaching and consultation-team structure of an adherent program. For many people, learning and practicing these skills in a supportive group setting is exactly the level of support that's needed.
If you're unsure which level of care is the right fit, our team can help you decide whether a skills group alone is enough, or whether a fuller DBT program would better meet your needs.