FAQ

At THIRA, we are committed to sustainable, “whole-person” recovery. Our goal is to help each patient reclaim their best self. We do this through comprehensive programs that address multiple facets of the individual’s needs: counseling, community, nutrition, vocation and schooling, physical health, mental presence, and more.

We spend time with each potential patient to understand their current challenges and find a program that suits the individual best. THIRA’s offerings include a Partial-Hospitalization Program (PHP) and an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Our PHP offering is designed to address the challenges of more severe circumstances related to eating disorders, anxiety, and depression, and offers a holistic approach to recovery that is more time-intensive. Our IOP blends group and individual therapy, DBT skills training, and provides more flexibility for individuals who work or go to school. Please visit our program pages for more details.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is based on the idea that some people are more prone than others to having intense emotional responses and consequently have less tolerance for distress. These individuals are quick to respond to stressful stimuli, have a larger than average response and are slow to return to baseline. DBT teaches skills that group members can use to change patterns of behavior and regain control of their lives.

DBT consists of individual weekly therapy as well as weekly group sessions. The Intensive Outpatient Program has sessions for 3 hours each over the treatment period which varies by patient. Once a patient has returned to baseline they may participate in a once per week booster group and 1:1 therapy.

DBT consists of 4 different modules: Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Distress Tolerance and Emotion Regulation. Mindfulness is the Core of DBT and for this reason is reviewed weekly in THIRA Health IOP.

DBT will give you the skills you need to manage your emotions without engaging in problematic behaviors. In DBT, group therapy is like a class; the therapist teaches the skills and assigns homework to make sure you are incorporating these skills into your life. Research shows that skills training is the most important part of DBT.