Montana DBT Associates
Comprehensive DBT Treatment for Adults and Adolescents in Missoula, Montana
A coordinated approach to DBT in Missoula, with individual therapy, skills training, phone coaching, and a therapist consultation team.
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Led by Montana’s only DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™
Our program is directed by Annie Florin, LCSW, DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™. Annie is the only DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™ in Montana, and we are the only practice offering comprehensive DBT to fidelity in the state and region.
View Annie’s certification on DBT-LBCCare that connects the pieces
When emotions feel difficult to manage or relationships become painful, it can help to have a structured approach and a team working toward the same goals. Montana DBT Associates offers comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy for adults and adolescents in Missoula, Montana.
Our specialized training supports outpatient care for people with a range of mental health concerns, including borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, autism, and mild substance use disorders. Our intake team can discuss whether this treatment is a fit for your needs.
What comprehensive DBT includes
- Weekly individual therapy: work with your primary therapist on an agenda centered around your life-worth-living goals, including motivation and commitment to change.
- DBT skills training: learn and practice skills alongside peers in a class-like setting led by two DBT clinicians.
- Between-session phone coaching: brief, focused help applying skills between appointments.
- A therapist consultation team: support for therapists in providing the DBT treatment model.
For teens, parent participation is an integral part of treatment: parents attend our multifamily skills training group alongside their teen, and parent and family therapy offers individualized support.
Skills for a life worth living
DBT combines acceptance and change. The four skills areas are mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance. Treatment gives you opportunities to learn these skills and practice using them in everyday situations.
What to expect
Clients should plan for treatment to last 12 months. Individual sessions take place weekly. Your treatment team will discuss how the parts of care fit together and help you work toward your goals.
Meet our clinicians to learn about their backgrounds, or schedule an appointment to talk with the intake team. Ask about current openings, age eligibility, and group schedules; these can change.
Learn about DBT
We understand that finding the right therapy for yourself or your teen can be confusing. We're available to answer questions and discuss whether DBT is the right treatment for your needs.
DBT in the News
The New York Times: feature article about adolescent mental health crisis
The New York Times: feature article about DBT for teens (August 2022)
The Daily: podcast episode about adolescent mental health (August 2022)
Time: depression in adolescent girls (February 2023)
NPR: article about treatments for adolescents (April 2023)
Washington Post: Barriers to effective treatment (September 2023)
Onlines resources to learn about DBT:
Behavioral Tech Institute: a deep dive into the research supporting DBT
DBT Skills: an overview of the specific skills
Books for learning about DBT and BPD
DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets by Marsha Linehan, PhD
Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents by Blaise Aguirre, MD
Building a Life Worth Living by Marsha Linehan, PhD
Self-Directed DBT Skills by Kiki Fehling, PhD & Elliot Weiner, PhD
Buddha and the Borderline by Kiera Van Gelder
DBT Skills for Highly Sensitive People by Emma Lauer, LCSW
*recommendations are non-sponsored & unaffiliated
Montana DBT Associates
Questions about comprehensive DBT
What is DBT?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is an evidence-based treatment for individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts and behaviors and self-harm behaviors.
DBT focuses on building a "life worth living" and does this through developing effective skills in the following areas: Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, Interpersonal Effectiveness, and Distress Tolerance.
What does "dialectical" mean?
In DBT treatment, "dialectics" is the concept that two things that seem opposite to each other can both be true at the same time.
Dialectics means looking at life as a "both/and" instead of "either/or".
Some examples:
My parent caused me a lot of trauma growing up and I really want them to love and approve of me.
I'm doing the best I can in life and I need to do better.
What makes this DBT treatment different?
DBT is more structured than traditional talk therapy and highly focused on individualized goals and skill development. Comprehensive DBT includes all 4 components described below, and decades of research show positive outcomes from this full model.
Some counselors have DBT training but don't offer the full model to fidelity; that is "DBT-informed," not the evidence-based treatment for life-threatening behaviors (suicide, self-harm).
Our program is directed by Annie Florin, LCSW, DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™. Annie is the only DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™ in Montana, and we are the only practice offering comprehensive DBT to fidelity in the state and region.
What does comprehensive DBT treatment consist of?
There are 4 components that make up full DBT:
1. Weekly individual Sessions
2. DBT Skills Training
3. Phone coaching
4. DBT consultation team for the therapist
The role of the consultation team is to ensure therapists are providing the treatment to fidelity. The team also serves to reinforce and motivate therapists to remain empathic, non-judgemental, and objective in working with their clients.
Does it work?
It does! DBT is considered the gold standard for treating suicidality, self-harm, and chronic emotional and behavioral dysregulation.
You can find a wealth of information about peer-reviewed clinical research here.
What's an example of a "DBT skill"?
The TIPP skill! TIPP is used to change an individual's body chemistry when experiencing intense distress (and might have urges for self-harm, suicide, or substances).
T: temperature (splash ice cold water on the face, hold ice packs to face)
I: intense exercise (short bursts of intensive movement, like climbing stairs or doing burpees, 5-10 minutes)
P: paced breathing (slowing down the breath, ie. square breathing)
P: progressive muscle relaxation (tensing and relaxing muscles from head to toe)
Does Montana DBT Associates treat both adults and adolescents?
Our practice offers comprehensive DBT for adults and adolescents in Missoula. Contact the intake team to confirm current age eligibility, openings, and which program is appropriate for you or your teen.
How long should I plan for comprehensive DBT?
Clients should plan for treatment to last 12 months. The team can explain the schedule and how individual therapy, skills training, and phone coaching work together.
Can my family take part in treatment?
Parent participation is an integral part of teen treatment: parents attend our multifamily skills training group alongside their teen. Individualized parent and family sessions also help with problem-solving, skill development, and strengthening connections.
How do I find out about openings and insurance?
Contact our intake team about current openings and group schedules. Visit Insurance and rates for the published plans and fees, and ask the team about your specific plan.
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