FAQs
Frequently asked questions about our services, what to expect, and more.
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FRTC is located in the Denver Tech Center, 20 minutes south of downtown Denver, 20 minutes north of Castle Rock, and 20 minutes east of Littleton.
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Front Range Treatment Center has a comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program, including individual therapy, DBT skills classes, and DBT phone coaching. DBT is a type of therapy designed for persons with borderline personality disorder, but helpful to persons with many other issues.
Our clinicians also use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address many issues, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and more.
We use only methods shown by research to be effective. Learn about evidence based treatments below.
All services are out-patient. We do not offer inpatient or residential services. We also do not offer court-ordered domestic violence classes.
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At Front Range Treatment Center, we deliver "evidence based treatment." So, what exactly does that mean?
Evidenced based treatment is a concept that guides clinicians in making decisions about client care. Therapists committed to providing evidence based treatments consider the best, most up-to-date research evidence when selecting treatments. These therapists believe that professional ethics requires them to only use methods shown by research to be effective. That way, the client is getting the most value possible, with the highest chance of a positive outcome.
Evidenced based treatments allow for flexibility and can be tailored to an individual’s specific needs, which can only be done after a clinical assessment from the provider.
According to the American Psychological Association, evidence-based treatment is:
“the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences.”
The purpose… is to promote effective psychological practice and enhance public health by applying empirically supported principles of psychological assessment, case formulation, therapeutic relationship, and intervention.
Division 12 of the American Psychological Association maintains a list of empirically supported treatments, some of which include Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Exposure Therapies, all of which are offered at Front Range Treatment Center.
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Choosing a therapist can be difficult. We suggest you consider therapists committed to providing evidence based treatment: a dedication to using only methods shown by research to be the most effective. You should also learn about the different types of mental health licenses, and evaluate any potential therapist's education, training, and experience.
When seeking a DBT therapist, we suggest only considering those offering comprehensive DBT programs, with therapists who have been intensively trained in DBT.
The gold standard in DBT training is to become certified through the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification as a Certified DBT Clinician. The people who run this organization created DBT, and have been training persons to perform DBT the longest.
Certification signifies that a DBT therapist is competent “to deliver DBT effectively and… demonstrate[d] their ability to deliver DBT programmatically with fidelity to the model as it has been researched.”
In order to even be considered for certification, applicants must have completed their masters or doctorate degree, be a licensed practitioner in their respective field, have been on a DBT consultation team for at least one year, and have accrued at least 40 hours of training. They must also complete an exam, and submit recorded sessions to demonstrate mastery of DBT concepts and techniques.
You can meet our therapists here.
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In order to give our clinicians the information they need and save time during your intake appointment, you will receive an email requesting that you complete paperwork. This email contains a link to your secure client portal. The paperwork includes a personal history and several questionaries, which allows your clinician to collect a helpful background information before you meet.
Cancellation policy: If you need to cancel or reschedule your first appointment, call or email us at least 24 hours before your appointment.
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During your first appointment, you and your clinician will begin to get to know one another. You will discuss your personal history, the reasons for your visit, and your goals for therapy.
Your clinician will discuss with you what therapy will be like, and you may start to learn some some helpful skills and concepts. They will also conduct a thorough assessment, and develop a preliminary treatment plan. Treatment plans are re-evaluated often as you make progress and your goals change.
Before the end of your first appointment, you and your clinician will schedule your next appointment. It is helpful if you can schedule a consistent time to meet. Having a designated appointment slot makes it more likely you will be able to see your clinician each week.
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A certified DBT program refers to a treatment program that has been officially recognized as meeting specific standards for providing DBT. The certification process is typically overseen by a professional organization, such as the Linehan Board of Certification (LBC).
To become a certified DBT program, a treatment center must typically meet the following criteria:
Adherence to the DBT model: The program must provide all four modes of standard DBT treatment, delivered in accordance with specific standards set by the certifying body.
Qualified DBT therapists: The program's therapists must have received specialized training in DBT and demonstrate competence in delivering DBT treatment.
Ongoing supervision and consultation: The program must have a system in place for regular supervision and consultation for therapists to ensure treatment fidelity.
Outcome tracking: The program must track treatment outcomes and use this data to inform treatment planning and delivery.
Certification is important because it ensures that a DBT program is providing treatment that is consistent with the evidence-based model developed by Marsha Linehan, and the standards outlined in the Linehan treatment manuals (Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder and the DBT Skills Training Manual).
Certification thereby increases the likelihood that patients will receive effective DBT treatment.