Olmsted County Dialectical Behavioral Therapy team receives national certification

The Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) team within Olmsted County’s Adult and Family Services department has recently been recognized as a nationally certified program by the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification. Olmsted County joins only two other programs in the state of Minnesota to have received this high honor.

DBT is an evidence-based psychotherapy that treats mental health disorders in a structured skills-based approach. This certification recognizes the DBT team’s dedication to providing high quality service with care to those living with mental health issues in our community. 

The DBT-Linehan Board of Certification determined that Olmsted County’s DBT program:

• Offers DBT in a way that conforms to evidence-based research.
• Has clinicians that demonstrate the knowledge and skills to deliver DBT with adherence to the model developed by Dr. Linehan and colleagues.
• Demonstrates having the necessary components and organization to deliver DBT that adheres to the Linehan model.  

“Being a nationally certified program means that our community providers will be confident when choosing Olmsted County as a provider to fight and support mental health issues,” said Olmsted County Director of Adult and Family Services Amy Thompson. 

Thompson passed along the following comments the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification obtained while evaluating Olmsted County’s DBT program:

“All of the therapists treat me with respect and concern. They genuinely want to help me.”

“Group leaders are thoroughly knowledgeable of skills and are effective communicators of materials while simultaneously providing warmth and support.”

“I have been in therapy since I was very young, and I was not skillful until I came into this program.”

Congratulations to the Olmsted County DBT team for receiving this high honor!