DBT Treatment Plan
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) helps patients better manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Get access to our free DBT treatment plan template to get started.
Fact Checked by RJ Gumban.
What is DBT Treatment Plan?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy that teaches individuals skills to manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Initially developed to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder, it is now widely used to treat many other mental health issues.
DBT therapy includes mindfulness exercises, interpersonal effectiveness skills, distress tolerance skills, and emotion regulation activities. These are integrated into a to ensure the patient is working on their goals in a structured way.
The plan also outlines a series of skills and strategies that the patient will work on throughout their treatment and the structure and format of their therapy sessions. It sets clear expectations for both the therapist and patient, ensuring everyone is on the same page about what is expected from the treatment.
Additionally, the DBT treatment plan typically contains the primary goals of treatment and a timeline for when they should be achieved.
Printable DBT Treatment Plan
Download this DBT Treatment Plan and design an effective treatment plan for your clients.
How To Use This DBT Treatment Plan
Our DBT treatment plan template is quick and easy to use. You can follow these steps to get started:
Step One: Download the plan
Access the free DBT treatment plan using the link on this page. You can also get a copy through the Carepatron app or the resources library.
Step Two: Customize the plan
Take some time to customize the plan according to your patient’s needs. This includes outlining their primary goals of treatment, the timeline for when they should be achieved, and specific skills they’ll need to work on.
Step Three: Review the plan
Review the plan with your patient to ensure they understand the goals and expectations of their treatment.
Step Four: Secure the form
Ensure you keep the treatment plan in a secure location or compliant digital storage, as this contains confidential patient information.
DBT Treatment Plan Example (Sample)
We've made a DBT treatment plan example to help you get started. The sample illustrates how a DBT treatment plan is outlined for a patient with borderline personality disorder, including pre-treatment notes, therapy sessions to conduct, and activities to help the patient practice mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation.
When Would You Typically Use A Treatment Plan For DBT?
You can use this treatment plan to treat individuals with a mental illness or disorder that requires DBT. This includes individuals with borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and eating disorders. Similarly, you can use this tool to:
Gather pre-treatment information and track patient progress
Before starting treatment, you can use a DBT treatment plan to gather pertinent information, including goals, medical history, and current diagnoses. The plan will also help you track patient progress as the client works through their treatment using the skills and strategies you outlined.
Develop goals and expectations
The plan can help you outline the treatment goals and set clear expectations for you and your patient. Using this template, you can design a treatment targeting each individual's specific areas of need and attach a timeline to when those goals should be achieved.
Monitor skill development
Using the plan, you can also monitor skill development and practice. You can use the plan to record what skills you and your patients are working on in each session and what strategies they are using to develop those skills.
You can view the sample here or download it as a PDF for reference.
Download DBT Treatment Plan Example (Sample)
When Would You Typically Use A Treatment Plan For DBT?
You can use this treatment plan to treat individuals with a mental illness or disorder that requires DBT. This includes individuals with borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and eating disorders. Similarly, you can use this tool to:
Gather pre-treatment information and track patient progress
Before starting treatment, you can use a DBT treatment plan to gather pertinent information, including goals, medical history, and current diagnoses. The plan will also help you track patient progress as the client works through their treatment using the skills and strategies you outlined.
Develop goals and expectations
The plan can help you outline the treatment goals and set clear expectations for you and your patient. Using this template, you can design a treatment targeting each individual's specific areas of need and attach a timeline to when those goals should be achieved.
Monitor skill development
Using the plan, you can also monitor skill development and practice. You can use the plan to record what skills you and your patients are working on in each session and what strategies they are using to develop those skills.
Who Can Use this Printable DBT Treatment Plan?
This printable DBT treatment plan can be used by any mental health professional who works with individuals requiring DBT. This includes:
- Mental health counselors
- Social workers
- Psychologists
- Marriage and family therapists
- Substance abuse counselors
- Psychiatrists
Benefits Of Free DBT Treatment Plan
The benefits of using this free DBT treatment plan template are numerous. Here are some important ones:
Fully digital
This free DBT treatment plan template is fully digital. It can be accessed and saved on any device with internet access. You can quickly create a comprehensive plan for your patient anytime, anywhere.
Time-saving
Using this template eliminates the time you would have to manually create a treatment plan from scratch, allowing you to spend more time on other tasks.
Easy to integrate into practice
The template is user-friendly and easy to integrate into your practice. All you need to do is fill in the pre-defined details and save it for future use.
Highly flexible
This DBT plan template is highly flexible, allowing you to quickly make changes as needed to keep up with the changing needs of your patient.
Why Use Carepatron For DBT Treatment Software?
Managing a mental health practice can be tricky. From staffing to billing, it's a lot to juggle – not to mention the need for secure patient data. That’s why Carepatron is here to help!
Our platform offers an array of features designed just for mental health professionals and their patients:
- Automated scheduling. Carepatron offers automated appointment scheduling, allowing you to schedule and view upcoming appointments with patients easily. It also has automated reminders and notifications to help reduce no-shows.
- Electronic Health Records (EHR). Our EHR system helps you keep track of patient medical history and other important information, making it easy to provide the best care possible.
- Patient portal. Carepatron's portal lets patients access their medical records and communicate with their providers.
- Billing and payments. Carepatron offers integrated billing and payment solutions so you can accept various payment methods.
- Telehealth. Carepatron offers nifty telehealth features, allowing you to connect with patients remotely. It can help reduce the need for in-person visits and improve patient outcomes.
Trusted by over 10,000 healthcare professionals, Carepatron is the perfect solution for managing your mental health practice. Put away the pen and paper and get to work with Carepatron! Sign up with us today!
.png)
Commonly asked questions
You should use a DBT treatment plan at the beginning of a therapy session to identify goals, expectations, and strategies for treating the patient. You can also use it to document progress throughout the course of treatment.
DBT treatment plans are helpful because they provide a clear and organized outline for treating your patient.
It is essential to individualize a DBT treatment plan because everyone’s needs and abilities are different. By creating an individualized plan with specific goals tailored to the patient’s needs, you can ensure that they receive the most effective treatment and are more likely to achieve their desired outcomes.
