Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

What is DBT?

3-C Family Services offers a comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program for adolescents, families, and adults. DBT was designed for individuals who have difficulty regulating their emotions and who turn to extreme coping mechanisms such as avoidance, self-harm (cutting, burning), substance use, anger outbursts, or disordered eating to manage their emotions. These individuals also may struggle with suicidal thinking and may have made suicide attempts in the past. DBT helps participants learn more effective ways to cope with intense negative emotions.
Get more information on DBT.

We Can Help

3-C clinicians have completed intensive training through Postpartum Support International (PSI), including the Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Components of Care training as well as the Advanced Perinatal Psychotherapy course. Our providers are parents themselves, with lived experience navigating PMADs. We offer our skills and knowledge in a safe, nonjudgmental space.

Please call our main number (919) 677-0101 and request Mary Miracle, LCMHC, or Chelsea Bartel, PhD, to set up your initial appointment.

Program Components

Participants attend individual (50 minutes) and group skills training sessions (90 minutes) sessions once weekly, usually on two different days. All participants must commit to a minimum of six months of therapy, which allows the group leaders to teach all the DBT skills one time. DBT groups are like classes, and participants are expected to listen, take notes, and participate in exercises and discussions. Each adolescent must have one caregiver present at each group session, as families are expected to learn DBT skills as well. Group sessions are designed to teach participants the skills they need, and individual therapy sessions are designed to help participants apply these skills in their day-to-day lives. Participants are also allowed to make “coaching calls” to their therapists in between sessions to get help with skills while they are at home or school. Consistent with the empirically supported treatment model, all DBT therapists at 3-C attend a weekly Consultation Team meeting.

Adolescents in the DBT program are required to attend individual therapy with a DBT therapist at 3-C. Adults are permitted to have non-DBT trained therapists.

Class Schedule

DBT Early Adolescent Group:
Wednesdays, 5:15‒6:45 p.m.
Leader: Addie Jeffs, Psy.D., Ms.

Meredith Grimes, LCMHC

DBT Late Adolescent Group:
Thursdays, 5:15‒6:45 p.m.
Leaders: Addie Jeffs, Psy.D., Susan Gillo, Ph.D.,

DBT Adult Group:
Tuesdays, 4:15‒5:45 p.m.
Leaders: Aja Cann, LCSW, LCAS

Full Model DBT vs. DBT Informed Treatment

Full Model DBT is highly structured and typically requires a commitment of six months to a year. It’s recommended for individuals who have chronic, severe emotional dysregulation or life-threatening behaviors like self-harm or suicidal ideation. It is also commonly used for individuals with a diagnosis of BPD, complex trauma, or other personality disorders where emotional regulation is a significant challenge.

What Is DBT-Informed Treatment?

DBT-informed treatment, on the other hand, refers to therapy that incorporates principles or skills from DBT without following the full DBT model. A DBT-informed therapist might teach you some of the core skills (such as mindfulness or distress tolerance) or use DBT techniques within the context of broader therapy work. However, this approach does not include all of the structured components of full DBT.

DBT-informed counseling can be highly effective for individuals who don’t need the intensity of full DBT but would still benefit from learning some of the key DBT skills. It can be integrated with other therapeutic approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or trauma-informed care, allowing for flexibility in treatment.

What are the DBT Skills?

We teach the following skills in our DBT groups:

Core mindfulness skills help individuals control and regulate their attention and learn to be more “present” in their daily life.
Interpersonal effectiveness skills help individuals negotiate relationships with others by asking for what they want and need or by saying no to requests in an effective manner.
Emotion regulation skills help individuals recognize and validate their own emotions as well as teach them to have less extreme mood swings.
Distress tolerance skills help individuals tolerate stressful situations and make healthier choices when under duress.
Middle path skills (adolescent groups only) help individuals to see both sides of a situation, think in less extreme ways, and validate themselves and others.

Current Offerings

We currently offer two groups for adolescents (high school age), one group for younger adolescents/pre-teens (middle school age), and one for adults (ages 18 and up). Class size is limited, and new members are allowed to join approximately once every five to six weeks when space allows.

Learn More About Groups

Cost and Insurance

We our out of network with all insurance companies and we will curtesy file to your insurance company for you. You can call your insurance company to see what they will cover for the following session codes:

Adult skills training group 90853 (interactive group code); individual therapy 90843 (code for 45-50 minute appointment)

Early or Late Adolescent skills training group -

90849 multi-family group code
individual therapy 90843 (code for 45-50 minute appointment)

Cost for the Adult Program:

Adult skills training group: $125 per session (credit card rate is $130)
45-50 minute Individual therapy session: $216 per session (credit card rate is 225)

Cost for the Adoelscent Program:

Adolescent skills training group: $175 per session (credit card rate $185)
45-50 minute Individual therapy session: $216 per session (credit card rate is 225)

Registration and More Information

Clients interested in the program will meet with an individual DBT therapist first, who will review our Orientation and Commitment packet with you (and your family, if applicable). We strongly encourage you to ask all questions you have during your first appointment. If the information in the packet raises questions that you’d like answered before you schedule an appointment, email the Director of the DBT program, Rebecca Townsend, Ph.D. at Townsend@3cfs.com

If you are interested in our DBT classes and are not currently a client at 3-C, or if you are a provider who is considering making a referral, please contact the front desk at (919) 677-0101. If you are interested in our DBT class and are a current client at 3-C, please notify your therapist.