Referrals & Community Providers
Partnering with providers to help clients access the right level of care
At the DBT Institute of Central Illinois (DBTICI), we value strong relationships with therapists, physicians, psychiatrists, school professionals, hospitals, and other community providers.
Our goal is not simply to receive referrals. We want to be a useful community resource—helping providers understand when DBT may be appropriate, offering consultation when treatment needs are unclear, and collaborating to help clients access the support they need.
When to Consider a DBTICI Referral
DBT may be helpful when a client is experiencing patterns such as:
Difficulty regulating intense or rapidly changing emotions
Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
Self-injury
Repeated crises or difficulty using coping strategies when distressed
Impulsive or self-destructive behaviors
Significant interpersonal or family conflict
Difficulty maintaining progress in traditional outpatient therapy
A need for more structured skills training and support
A client does not need to have a particular diagnosis to benefit from DBT. We consider the client's patterns of behavior, treatment goals, current level of support, and what may be interfering with progress when determining whether DBT is an appropriate fit.
Comprehensive DBT
For clients who need a higher level of structure than traditional weekly outpatient therapy can provide, DBTICI offers Comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy for adolescents and adults.
Comprehensive DBT includes:
Individual DBT TherapyWeekly individual treatment focused on identifying and changing behaviors that interfere with safety, quality of life, relationships, and progress toward meaningful goals.
DBT Skills GroupStructured training in Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. Adolescent programming also incorporates Middle Path skills and caregiver participation.
Between-Session Phone CoachingBrief coaching helps clients apply DBT skills in their actual environments, particularly when they are struggling to use skills independently.
DBT Consultation TeamDBT clinicians participate in ongoing consultation to support effective, adherent treatment.
Together, these components provide substantially more structure than simply incorporating DBT skills into individual therapy.
Learn More About Comprehensive DBT
Referring for DBT Skills Group Only
Clients do not necessarily need to transfer individual therapy to DBTICI to benefit from DBT skills training.
We welcome referrals from community therapists who would like to continue working with their client individually while the client participates in a DBTICI skills group.
Our skills groups function more like structured classes than traditional process groups. Clients learn, practice, and apply concrete behavioral skills without being expected to process their personal histories in the group.
When appropriate, DBTICI can collaborate with the referring therapist while the client continues individual treatment in the community.
If our assessment suggests that skills group alone is unlikely to provide adequate support, we will discuss whether Comprehensive DBT or another level of care should be considered.
Learn About DBT Skills Groups & Current Group Times
Not Sure What to Refer For?
You don't need to determine that before contacting us.
Sometimes it is clear that a client would benefit from Comprehensive DBT. Other times, the question is whether a client needs full DBT, skills training, DBT-informed individual therapy, or another service altogether.
We are happy to talk through a potential referral and help determine an appropriate next step.
Consult With DBTICI About a Referral
Referral Resources
We've created brief referral guides to make it easier for community professionals to understand our services, recognize when DBT may be helpful, and know how to connect someone with our practice.
Referral Guide for Mental Health Providers
A quick reference for therapists, psychiatrists, and other behavioral health professionals, including DBTICI services, potential indicators for referral, and options for collaboration.
View Mental Health Provider Referral Guide
View Referral Guide for Parent Coaching
Referral Guide for Medical Practices
Designed for primary care offices, pediatricians, medical specialists, and other healthcare professionals who may encounter patients struggling with significant emotion dysregulation, self-harm, suicidality, behavioral concerns, or difficulty engaging effectively in treatment.
View Medical Practice Referral Guide
Referral Guide for Schools
A resource for school counselors, psychologists, social workers, administrators, and other student-support professionals. The guide provides information about DBTICI services for adolescents and families, when an outside referral may be appropriate, and how we can collaborate with school teams.
How to Refer
Providers can refer a client directly to DBTICI or encourage the client or family to contact us for a consultation.
During the consultation process, we'll gather information about the client's current concerns, treatment history, goals, and existing supports to determine which of our services may be appropriate.
When a client is already working with another provider, we value collaboration and continuity of care. With appropriate authorization, our clinicians can coordinate with members of the client's existing treatment team.
Let's Connect
We also welcome opportunities to build relationships with other professionals in our community.
If you would like to learn more about DBTICI, discuss the needs you're seeing in your practice or organization, or simply get to know one another as referral resources, we would be happy to find a time to connect.
DBTICI is also available for professional education, community presentations, and consultation related to DBT, emotion regulation, and supporting individuals with complex behavioral and emotional needs.