The DBT-Linehan Board of Certification™ (DBT-LBC™) is an independent, 501c3 non-profit organization. DBT-LBC™ is a certification organization and we do not provide the training that is required for our certification. We are separate from all organizations that provide DBT training.
Professional certification is a voluntary process by which you are evaluated against predetermined standards for knowledge, skills, and competencies. Participants who demonstrate that they meet the standards by successfully completing the assessment process are granted this credential. To retain the credential, certificants must maintain continued competence. The credential awarded by the certification program provider denotes that the participant has demonstrated particular knowledge, skills, and competencies.
Certification
Certification differs from a certificate in that a certificate is attesting to accomplishing the completion of some educational or training effort with no assessment of what was retained or available to put into practice. Certification is a much more involved assessment to demonstrate the application of knowledge to the performance and delivery of the treatment. It requires more than an attestation statement. It is a valuable reassurance to you and to the public that you have been evaluated and met the standards needed to deliver the treatment.
Accreditation
Accreditation is the process by which a credentialing or educational program is evaluated against defined standards, and when in compliance with these standards, is awarded recognition by a third party.
The Value of DBT-Linehan Board of Certification™
(DBT-LBC™)
DBT-LBC™ Certification sets the standard for high-quality Dialectical Behavior Therapy. It provides assurance to clients, families, insurers, and agencies that certified clinicians and programs have demonstrated competence in delivering adherent DBT.
For clinicians, certification recognizes the dedication required to master this complex treatment and distinguishes them as trusted providers. For programs, it signals a commitment to evidence-based care. On a broader scale, certification strengthens advocacy for fair reimbursement, protects the integrity of DBT as developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan, and helps clients find qualified providers when they need it most.
Since 1991 when the first randomized, controlled trial supporting the efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy was published, the behavioral health community and its stakeholders have had an ever-increasing interest in the development of standards that insure that individuals and programs delivering DBT are doing so with fidelity to the model.
As more studies were done and dissemination of the treatment began in earnest, the need for these types of standards has become increasingly important to a number of concerned parties including:
- Family members and loved ones of those in need of treatment.
- Individuals in need of treatment.
- Third-party payers.
- Practitioners, researchers and treatment developers.
- Professional societies and organizations
The concerns of these stakeholders include:
- Individuals have the right to be informed regarding the credentials of a provider
- Third party payers have an obligation to manage health care resources by providing access to quality care while managing health care funding in the most effective and efficient manner possible.
- Individuals receiving care, their family members and loved ones have the right to some measure of assurance the provider is capable of giving the “best care” possible.
- Clinicians have the right to be recognized for providing high quality services, thus distinguishing the provider from others less qualified.
The DBT- Linehan Board of Certification™ was created to meet that need. DBT-LBC™ was formed to develop a comprehensive way to certify individual therapists in their competency to deliver DBT effectively and to certify programs that demonstrate their ability to deliver DBT programmatically with fidelity to the model as it has been researched.
How are the standards for Certification set?
All criteria for the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification™, Certification Process has been informed by the following: Consulting with Dr. Marsha Linehan, the treatment developer, and colleagues; Research-based work on adherence coding; and use of the Treatment manuals (Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (1993) and Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder 1993). All criteria are backed by the research that has been conducted by Dr. Linehan and Colleagues. As new research emerges, the standards will be reviewed.
Now that you are Certified
Once you achieve certification, the designation and emblem will be provided on a mailed certificate suitable for framing. You may use your designation, (Name), DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™, in any professional context (e.g., letterhead, email signatures, business cards, and other professional correspondence).
Emblem: The emblem may only be displayed in the following places:
- Your email signature
- Your individual BIO page on your website (directly linked to your name)
- Individual business cards
Please note: The emblem may not be displayed elsewhere on your website. Doing so may misrepresent your program or team as certified by DBT-LBC™. If your emblem currently appears outside of the allowed locations, please remove it, along with any language that could mislead the public about certification status.