DBT Intensive Outpatient (IOP) Services
Our DBT intensive outpatient programs for adults and adolescents aim to provide more intensive services for individuals and families, as well as an alternative to residential treatment.
We are certified by the Linehan Board of Certification
Contact UsAbout Our DBT IOP
Standard outpatient DBT works well for individuals with emotion dysregulation problems. However, sometimes a more intensive approach is needed.
We recommend DBT IOP:
- to avoid hospitalization for intense problems
- when there is a desire for rapid gains
- as a step-down from higher levels of care (hospitalization, residential treatment)
- to receive treatment in a more consolidated fashion when time constraints (e.g., returning to school or work) or travel limitations (e.g., living a far distance from where treatment is available) are a concern
- to receive more intensive treatment for particular problems (e.g., suicide ideation, self-harm, anxiety disorders, depression) that require daily intervention
- as a way to “start strong” before beginning standard outpatient DBT
Our DBT IOP provides 9-12 hours of treatment per week, with all the same elements of comprehensive DBT: individual therapy, skills training, outside-of-session contact with your therapist, and additional services, such as psychiatry and parent/family support, as needed.
See below for more information about our adult and adolescent DBT IOP programs.
Adult Program (ages 18+)
Intensive outpatient DBT for adults offers all of the elements of standard outpatient DBT, but in a more intensive format: two days per week of individual therapy and 1 day per week of mindfulness group, along with skills training. Additionally, participants have access to phone consultations with their individual therapist outside of sessions. Further services, including psychiatry, are also available.
Our adult DBT IOP services are for people ages 18 and over.
Typical adult DBT IOP schedule
Treatment occurs in 8-week rounds; clients typically complete at least one 8-week cycle, and may repeat the cycle one or more times if needed. We recommend clients step down to standard outpatient DBT upon completion of IOP to solidify gains achieved during intensive treatment.
- Individual therapy: 1 hour M & Th (time varies based on your assigned therapist’s availability)
- Mindfulness group: 1:00-2:00 W
- Skills group: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm M, W, Th
- Phone consultation
- Optional services: environmental support/educational group or individual sessions for parents or partners of adult clients, if needed
Adolescent Program (ages 15-20)
Intensive outpatient DBT for adolescents offers all of the elements of standard outpatient DBT, but in a more intensive format: two days per week of individual therapy and skills training, one day a week of work group and skills training, along with phone consultation with an individual therapist outside of sessions. Additional services, including psychiatry and parent training sessions, are also available.
Our adolescent DBT IOP services are for people ages 15-20.
Typical adolescent DBT IOP schedule
Treatment occurs in 8-week rounds; clients typically repeat the 8-week cycle 2-3 times and can stay longer if needed. We recommend clients step down to standard outpatient DBT upon completion of IOP to solidify gains made during intensive treatment.
- Individual therapy: 1 hour M & Th (time varies based on your assigned therapist’s availability; parents may be asked to attend on occasion)
- Work Group: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm T, a place to complete therapy homework, school homework, and other tasks with the help of a therapist
- Multi-family skills group: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm M, T, Th with at least one parent (this group also offers parents time to meet with other parents for support and education once per week)
- Phone consultation
- Optional services: individual parenting support, if needed
