One of the most common e-mails I receive
at DBT Path is asking for a referral for DBT counselors in their
areas. It can find like a needle in a
haystack to even find a DBT counselor let alone one you connect with. Don’t fret there are options out there and
some don’t involve leaving the house.
The
Good: This list is of those formally trained though
Behavioral Tech.
The
Bad: Many DBT Therapists are not trained
through Behavioral Tech (myself included) and it includes mostly DBT Clinics
over individual counselors.
2. Google
The
Good: It’s simple
and it might bring up therapists who willing to do sliding scale or starting a
practice than those who pay to be on search sites.
The
Bad: It’s google, so anything with “DBT+
Phoenix” will come up, including a band called Drive By Truckers.
3. Good Therapy
The
Good: Easy to use
search engine just for therapists. You can
search for DBT-specific therapists and see short bios and pictures.
The
Bad: Same as with other search engines
for therapists, they pay for the advertisements so small practices might not
advertise.
The
Good: This is the
top site for searching- more listings and more detail in profiles.
The
Bad:
Same as good therapy regarding therapists paying for their listing.
5. Live Person
The
Good: It’s online, via e-mail or make a
phone appointment so stay in your PJs also some therapists profiles say “live
now,” which means if you want to talk to someone at 3am they might be someone
there (it’s not crisis counseling.)
Therapists do not pay to be listed and they have reviews.
The
Bad: Many people like face-to-face
therapy and the prices are a bit steep if you are looking for ongoing
help. There are also less than 10 DBT
Therapists listed right now.
6. Look for a non-DBT Therapist. : I know
this seems weird, but hear me out on this.
The Good:
Many counselors who are not DBT Therapists are still great counselors. If you are looking for help with trauma and
sharing diary card/homework accountability, a non-DBT Counselor might be a
great fit. Yes, you won’t talk DBT the
whole time, but you might get great non-DBT coping skills. This opens up the number of local Mental Health
Professionals exponentially.
The Bad: It’s not DBT-oriented.
So
now you have some names and numbers of DBT Therapists so where to start? There are many articles on how to find a “good”
therapist. This site has a great list of what to ask so I am going to focus on what to ask a “DBT
Therapist.”
I
put “DBT Therapist” in quotes for a reason.
There are many great therapists that have some training on DBT and list
DBT in their profiles, but then don’t have much knowledge of it. Many of the search sites have check boxes and
I think many therapists get “click happy.”
I am not saying these are not great therapists, but if you are looking
to talk DBT, review diary cards and talk skills these counselors might not be a
good fit. Here’s a list of what to as a “DBT
Therapist to ensure they are DBT Counselors:
·
Give
them a ring, not an e-mail. Sounds
sneaky but try to catch them a bit off guard so their answers are not prepared
even if they end up calling you back.
·
Take
the free meet-and-greet. If you are
searching someone in person, most offer an initial consultation on person or on
the phone- take them up on it and be prepared with questions. Consider this a job interview and you are the
boss!
·
What
training do you have specific to DBT?
·
How
many clients who have (your diagnosis or primary issue) have you used DBT
skills with?
·
Have
you ever facilitated a DBT group?
·
Are
you familiar with DBT Diary Cards?
Emotion Regulation 1a worksheets?
·
How
familiar are you with specific skill? Heck
name a few major skills (i.e. Wise Mind and Opposite Action) and see if they
can keep up.
You
are the consumer and deserve the best- be assertive!
Ask for exactly what you want to work on. If you are struggling with relationship
issues and past trauma issue start the conversation with, “I am working on
relationship issues and handling past trauma that is interfering with my life. I am looking for more accountability and
skill building one-on-one. I have found
wise mind, radical acceptance and mindfulness most effective and could use more
depth in my learning of these skills.” A
good therapist who isn't well versed in DBT will re-direct you to someone else.
No
matter which way you go, if you need help be EFFECTIVE and find it!
