The primary treatment approach used in the residential treatment program is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT is state-of-the-art cognitive behavioral therapy developed by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D. at the University of Washington. DBT is the only approach that has been shown in clinical trials to be an effective treatment for chronically suicidal females. Although originally developed for the treatment of borderline personality disorder, DBT is widely applicable to a variety of other difficult to treat disorders, especially those that are characterized by a high degree of emotional instability (e.g., adolescent onset bipolar disorder). Summitview is among just a handful of residential treatment facilities in the country that provide DBT.
Treatment in a nutshell. The underlying DBT theoretical assumption of Borderline Personality Disorder is that it is a biologically-based disorder of the emotion regulation system in which the client has great difficulty regulating emotion and tolerating emotional distress. Problematic behavior (self-harm, impulsiveness, etc.) is both an unsuccessful attempt to reduce emotional distress, as well as a consequence of impulsive decision-making that takes place when the client is emotionally dysregulated. A primary objective of DBT is to teach the client concrete behavioral skills to tolerate distress, regulate emotions, and improve interpersonal relationships.
To decrease life-threatening and quality of life interfering behavior
Enhance behavioral capabilities and social functioning
Reduce emotional reactivity (especially anger)
Improve motivation to change
Generalize new skills to the real-world environment
