Change from the Ground Up: Bringing Informed-Dialectical Behavioral Therapy to Residential Treatment

Abstract

This article describes how a large residential treatment program, Spurwink Services—decentralized throughout the southern and mid-portions of Maine—adapted and implemented an Informed Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Program as part of its evidence-based treatment interventions for adolescent youth in residential treatment. Begun as a single group 8 years ago, the program now flourishes in 5 residential treatment sites across the agency. Interestingly, the inspiration, development, and growth of the program are highlighted as an example of the effectiveness of ground-up leadership on the front lines of residential treatment.