Dr. Jenell Effinger, Ph.D.
Clinical Director & Clinical Psychologist
Sees: Ages 17+ (older teens and adults)
About Jenell Effinger
Front Range Treatment Center is overseen by Jenell Effinger, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist licensed in Colorado and Washington. She is a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified DBT Clinician™.
Dr. Effinger specializes in treating issues of impulse control, self-injury, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and intense moods. She also works with individuals with psychotic experiences.
Dr. Effinger teaches DBT skills courses and works with individual therapy clients who are seventeen years old and above.
Articles by Jenell Effinger
What Actually Happens in a DBT Skills Group
A minute-by-minute look at a DBT skills group — mindfulness, homework review, the new skill, the wind-down — and what you're never asked to…
A Year in DBT: Month by Month
DBT is a year-long commitment. An honest month-by-month picture: early frustration, the skill-building plateau, and the shifts that stick.
DBT Diary Card Templates
The diary card is DBT's core tracking tool — a daily record of emotions, urges, and skills. What goes on it and how to use it well.
The DBT Skills Wheel Explained
DBT's four modules — mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness — explained as one connected system.
DBT for Shame
Shame is hard to regulate because it tells you to hide. A clinician on the DBT skills that work on shame — and when opposite action is…
Is BPD a Disability? What the ADA Says
BPD can qualify as a disability under the ADA and may qualify for SSDI, but eligibility hinges on functional impact, not diagnosis alone.
BPD Splitting: Stop the Cycle
BPD splitting is an automatic coping response — not a choice and not manipulation. A clinician's plain-language guide to stopping the cycle.
What BPD Self-Assessments Actually Measure
What real BPD tests actually measure, which online quizzes are research-based, and why a quiz score is never a diagnosis.
Quiet BPD: Why It's Not a Real Diagnosis
'Quiet BPD' is not in the DSM and is not a clinical diagnosis. Why the term gets weaponized — and how to get a real evaluation instead.
BPD vs. Bipolar: What Clinicians Look For
BPD and bipolar both involve mood instability but differ in episode length, triggers, and treatment.
Comprehensive DBT vs. DBT-Informed
Comprehensive DBT and DBT-informed therapy differ in structure, intensity, and outcomes — and DBT-informed isn't a smaller dose of DBT.
Do I Have BPD? A Self-Reflection Guide
An honest, clinician-written guide for people wondering if they have BPD. The nine DSM-5 criteria in plain language and what to do next.
BPD Medication: What Helps
BPD medication targets specific symptoms — mood instability, impulsivity, anxiety — not the disorder itself. What works, what doesn't.
How to Find the Best DBT Therapist
The best DBT therapist delivers comprehensive DBT — not just 'DBT-informed' therapy. Credentials, program structure, and red flags.
What Is ERP (Exposure & Response)?
A beginner's guide to ERP therapy for OCD. Learn how exposure and response prevention works, what to expect in treatment, and why it's the…
Self-Harm and DBT: How Treatment Helps
How DBT treats self-harm — the skills, the approach, and why it's the most effective treatment available.
The Cost of Untreated BPD
What happens when BPD goes untreated? The real costs — emotional, relational, financial, and physical — and why effective treatment matters.
7 Common Myths About DBT
Debunking 7 common myths about dialectical behavior therapy. Learn what DBT really is and who can benefit from this evidence-based…
How CBT Treats Obsessive Thoughts
How CBT addresses obsessive thinking through cognitive restructuring, ERP, and thought records. A guide from Denver CBT therapists.
OCD Myths: It's Not Just About Being Neat
Debunking 5 common myths about OCD. Learn the truth about harm OCD, pure O, relationship OCD, and why OCD is far more than a desire for…
What is the 4-miss rule in DBT?
Understand the 4 miss rule in DBT therapy. Learn why consistent attendance matters and how this policy supports your treatment progress.
DBT: Evidence-Based Treatment
DBT is a research-supported, evidence-based therapy that helps manage emotions, reduce harm, and improve relationships.
Describing the D in DBT
What does dialectical mean in DBT? Learn how the balance of acceptance and change defines Dialectical Behavior Therapy and why it matters…
Fighting the Stigma of BPD
BPD stigma still shapes how people get diagnosed and treated. DBT therapists on the cost of stigma and what compassionate, evidence-based…
Five Books to Learn More About DBT
Discover five essential books on Dialectical Behavior Therapy to deepen your understanding of DBT skills, techniques, and the science…
Hospitalization of Persons with BPD
Many with BPD face hospitalization - but care isn’t always tailored. Learn why and how DBT provides a better treatment path.
How to Find a BPD Therapist in Denver
Looking for a BPD therapist in Denver? Learn about symptoms, treatment options, and how to find a specialist in Borderline Personality…
The Benefits of DBT for BPD
DBT is the most evidence-based treatment for BPD. How it reduces self-harm and crises, builds emotion regulation, and what a year of DBT…
The Biosocial Theory of BPD
Biosocial theory explains how BPD develops from emotional sensitivity and invalidating environments. Learn how DBT addresses both.
The Life Course of BPD
BPD develops in adolescence, peaks in early adulthood, and softens with age — but only with the right care.
The Science Behind DBT
DBT is backed by science. Learn how evidence-based strategies help people manage emotions and improve their relationships.
The History and Growth of DBT
Explore the history of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, from its origins with Dr. Marsha Linehan to its current impact worldwide.
What are DBT Consultation Teams?
DBT consultation teams support therapists in delivering top-quality care. Learn how they work and why they matter in DBT treatment.