The TAP Clinic has a comprehensive adolescent DBT program that is directed by Dr. Lorie Ritschel. The adolescent program is a Linehan Board Certified (LBC) DBT program. The treatment is conducted in accordance with fidelity to the model articulated by the treatment developer, Dr. Marsha Linehan , which means it contains all four modes of DBT therapy. These four modes are described below:

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Individual Therapy:

All participants in the DBT-A program are required to see an intensively-trained DBT therapist for individual therapy. This person is a specialist in DBT and can help you implement the DBT skills in your life. Individual therapy typically occurs once weekly.

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Skills Group Therapy:

Our comprehensive DBT-A program includes a multifamily skills training group that includes adolescents and one parent/caregiver. The goal of each group is to teach and review skills aimed at stabilizing emotions, reducing impulsivity, and improving family communication. All individuals in our skills groups meet with an individual DBT provider, which is a requirement for eligibility. If you are seeing an individual DBT therapist at the TAP clinic, you are automatically eligible for our groups.

 

If you see an individual DBT provider outside of the TAP clinic and would like to join one of our groups, please contact us by email  (AdolescentDBT@tapclinicnc.com) to discuss intake procedures. 

 

We currently have three comprehensive DBT-A groups:

One High School Multi-family group on Tuesday evenings from 5:00-7:00 pm.

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One Neurodivergent Multi-family group on Monday evenings from 5:30-7:00 pm.

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One Middle School Multifamily group on Wednesday afternoon from 4:00-6:00.

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Phone Coaching:

Phone coaching is generally a DBT-specific service that involves clients calling their individual therapists when they are in need of some help. Phone coaching is done at no extra charge for our individual DBT clients (group-only clients would get phone coaching from their outside individual therapist). Each individual provider has different guidelines and limitations on phone coaching and this will be discussed during your orientation to DBT with your individual provider.

 

Consultation Team:

The consultation team is a provider-only meeting each week to provide consultation, training, and support to other DBT providers. Clients do not attend these meetings.

 

As part of our DBT program, please be aware that your individual therapist obtains consultation from the entire team and that relevant client information may be shared with team members. You are welcome to request a list of our consultation team members at any time.

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Learn More: 

You can learn more about what it means to be in a comprehensive DBT program and how to understand your therapist’s use of DBT skills and level of training in DBT by reading the blog post What Does it Mean to be in DBT Treatment. You can use our blog to learn more about Linehan Board Certification (LBC) of our DBT Program and our individual clinicians.