Willmar Adolescent Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Willmar Adolescent Dialectical Behavior Therapy is an evidence-based treatment created by Dr. Marsha Linehan. It was originally created for the treatment of borderline personality disorder – a disorder characterized by highly suicidal behaviors, self-harm, and intense, out-of-control emotions. DBT has now proven effective in treating a wide array of mental health disorders – personality disorders, chronic depression, and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and addictions.

DBT is a treatment designed for Adolescents and Adults who struggle to regulate their behaviors and emotions effectively. This can look like suicidal thinking, self-harm (cutting, etc.), addiction, difficulty with anger/rage, chronic depression and anxiety, eating disorders, intense shame, and unresolved trauma to name a few. Clients who would most benefit from DBT are those where “treatment as usual” (traditional psychotherapy) has not been effective and/or their behaviors and emotions cause severe impairment to their quality of life. DBT is an empirically supported treatment – meaning it has been studied at length in clinical trials and has repeatedly proven effective.