A Comprehensive DBT and RO-DBT Program
Long Beach and Irvine

Empowering You to Build a Life Worth Living and Sharing.

Welcome to DBT Center of Long Beach and
RO-DBT California Collective

We are Southern California’s premier Comprehensive DBT and RO-DBT group practice serving individuals and families both in-person and virtually. Our team of clinicians is foundationally trained in DBT and Level-3 Trained in Radically Open DBT.

" Tiana and her entire team are incredible. Many therapists claim to do DBT, but DBT Center does it as it was intended. DBT is hard work. It takes commitment and dedication and as long as you commit to do that hard work, it will change your life. So thankful I found them! "

— CP

What is Standard DBT and RO-DBT?

Most of mental health clinicians, workers, and clients may be familiar with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) or have encountered it in some way. Initially developed by Marsha Linehan in the late 1980’s for treating Borderline Personality Disorder, it is now recognized and validated as a great evidence-based therapy for a number of mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, eating disorders, ADHD, PTSD, self-harm and suicidal tendencies. The goal of DBT is to alleviate the intense emotional pain associated with these mental health issues.

The four pillars of standard DBT


The four modules of DBT

Standard DBT

Standard DBT is an evidence-based treatment developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan to help individuals who experience emotional undercontrol. Those struggling with undercontrol often face:

  • Intense, rapidly shifting emotions

  • Impulsive or self-destructive behaviors

  • Chronic feelings of emptiness or anger

  • Unstable relationships and difficulty managing stress

Standard DBT teaches core skills in mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. It is especially effective for those who feel their emotions are overwhelming or difficult to manage.

Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT)

RO-DBT is an evidence-based treatment developed by Dr. Thomas Lynch designed for those who struggle with overcontrol of emotions. Individuals who are emotionally over-controlled often experience:

  • Social isolation

  • Difficulty responding to change

  • Risk avoidant behaviors and

  • Painful interpersonal relationships

More often, these individuals have perfectionist tendencies, struggle with loneliness, are overly cautious and have trouble connecting with others. Ultimately, Standard-DBT and RO-DBT both target distress. Standard-DBT treats emotion when it is experienced as out of control and disinhibited. However, in the case of RO-DBT distress is often inside, not expressed to others directly or can be suppressed entirely.

What is Standard DBT and RO-DBT?

Is Standard DBT right for me?

UNDERCONTROLLED:
Emotional Dysregulated and Impulsive

Do you suffer from any of the following?

  • Suicidal behavior or self-injury

  • Chronic problems with depression, anxiety and anger

  • Self-destructive behaviors

  • Intense and volatile emotional reactivity and difficulty returning to stable mood.

  • Unstable self-image and sense of emptiness

  • Stress-related paranoia or loss of contact with reality

  • Feelings of paranoia and victimization

  • Fear of abandonment

  • Unstable or changing relationship

Recommended Treatment Path

Is RO-DBT right for me?

OVERCONTROLLED:
Emotionally Constrictive and Risk Averse

Do you experience any of the following?

Recommended Treatment Path

Contact Us

To schedule a free 15-minute call with our Clinical Director to see if we’re the right fit for your needs.

We are offering both in-person and virtual appointments.