Should all Borderlines try to get into a DBT program?

[A.J. Mahari]

A.J.'s Question: Should all Borderlines try to get into a DBT program

Dr. Moskovitz responded:

It is perhaps unfair for a non-DBT trained therapist to address these questions, since I clearly practice, believe in, and write about a different style of treatment. I do think that DBT offers reliable help to those patients who have access to it, can afford it, and are motivated to use it in order to change. For many patients, however, it may not be both geographically and financially available. As with any treatment, it is crucial to check out the credentials, reputation, and personality of the therapist. If faced with the choice between technique and fit, I would go with fit every time. Without a therapist who can be respected and trusted, it will be difficult to develop respect and trust in yourself.

© Dr. Richard Moskovitz

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[A.J. Mahari]

I'd also just like to add here that when I recovered from Borderline Personality Disorder - it's been 14 years since that time now - I did not get treated with DBT therapy. While I had a lot of therapy from the age of 16-30 off and on - just from the place of wanting my suffering witnessed, as I look back at it now and not from any place where I was ready, willing, or even able to do the work required to recover from BPD.

It was in my early 30's that I got involved in what was a series of 3 group therapy go-rounds in an out-patient day treatment program. The therapy that would change my life and that was the backbone of my recovery from BPD was somewhat eclectic but essentially it was Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

DBT is, from all reports, astounding for many. However, even DBT has at its core, along with other principles many of the principles of CBT.

There is also Schema Therapy and then there are other types as well. While DBT may be working wonders for many with BPD, I don't believe it is the only way to recover. I know this for a fact actually. I was in therapy and recovering, not before DBT was created, but certainly before it became as popular and before it was available on in the wide-spread way that it is today.

The backbone of recovery from BPD is therapy with a competent therapist that believes in your ability to get better and to recover. I think that getting professional help and having a therapist that is skilled in and knowledgeable of BPD and like I said who believes you can get better is really far more important than what type of therapy one is in. Many professionals practice an eclectic modality of therapy that can be just as effective.

In order for the therapist to be the kind of teacher who can, like the therapists I had, awaken the student in the client, the client must be ready, willing, and able - and choose to - engage the process of the journey that is required to, in fact, recover.