When investing time, energy, and resources into an evidence-based psychotherapy, a person seeking services can greatly benefit from receiving information regarding the competence of specific mental health therapists. Trying to gauge the competence of a therapist can be particularly elusive, as a consumer, in part due to a wide range of marketing efforts and claims that complicate the process and muddy the facts. Thankfully, for individuals seeking dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), leaders in the field are aware of this problem, and have generated ways to distinguish qualified providers who have demonstrated competence in DBT.
Meeting with a DBT therapist who has received feedback from other experts regarding videotaped sessions and who has demonstrated the skills and knowledge to conduct DBT therapy is not the same as meeting with a therapist who has heard of a few DBT skills. For anyone seeking DBT services, being aware of these differences can save time and lead to more effective results.
When considering whether a DBT therapist is competent, the primary issue to consider is that DBT needs to be delivered in a way that matches the research of Dr. Marsha Linehan and other DBT researchers’ randomized controlled trials. This is important because randomized controlled trials provide evidence that DBT works, with excellent results, and these results are not due to chance or factors unrelated to DBT treatment. However, the evidence for DBT’s effectiveness does not apply if DBT is conducted in ways that are not adherent to the standards used in the randomized controlled trials and Marsha Linehan’s original work. For example, comprehensive DBT includes individual therapy, group therapy, phone coaching, and a consultation team. If a person with intense emotion dysregulation and suicidality enters a program without phone coaching, DBT’s evidence for decreasing suicidality may be seriously compromised.
In addition to considering the importance of adherent DBT, individuals seeking DBT should also expect that DBT therapists have received direct training from individuals who are certified by the DBT Linehan Board of Certification or individuals who have received comprehensive training by individuals who work directly with the Linehan Board. To put it bluntly, Dr. Marsha Linehan would be an excellent therapist to provide DBT, as she designed the treatment that has been shown to be effective for disorders of emotion dysregulation, but she is not currently taking clients! Therefore, individuals seeking DBT services will benefit from seeking treatment from individuals with extensive training by Marsha Linehan or the Linehan Board.
To identify someone who has been certified by the Linehan Board, potential clients can find a Linehan Board certified therapist on the Linehan Board of Certification website, or check whether a therapist has the appropriate certification title: DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified DBT Clinician™. Clinicians who are Board Certified are competent DBT clinicians that have provided videotaped sessions for adherence and DBT knowledge evaluation by the Linehan Board.
If there are no Linehan Board Certified clinicians in your area, the second best option is to seek therapy services from therapists who are receiving mentoring and consultation by clinicians with the Linehan Board of Certification. At Cincinnati Center for DBT, Dr. Nikki Winchester is certified by the Linehan Board, and all of the clinicians conduct extensive training to prepare to meet the standards of the Linehan Board. If seeking services elsewhere, it is important to ask about Linehan Certified clinicians and DBT-adherence. In sum, for individuals seeking DBT, the time, energy, and investment is worth the incredible life changes that can take place. Importantly, this process is much more effective and worthwhile if the clinician is trained to provide DBT the way Dr. Marsha Linehan designed the treatment.
About the Author
Samuel Eshleman Latimer (he/his), Psy.D., is a Psychologist that specializes in dialectical behavior therapy and effective conflict management. Samuel also works to help people find relief from anxiety, trauma, and relationship distress. Samuel believes that people do not need to choose between learning effective techniques that are based on science and developing warm, genuine relationships, as both of these styles complement each other. Click Here to learn more about Samuel’s experience and therapeutic style.
Additional Resources
Learn more about DBT certification at the Linehan Board of Certification.